Brown Panther has been ruled out of the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot next week after suffering a setback.
The Tom Dascombe-trained seven-year-old passed the post a close fourth in last year's renewal of the prestigious two-and-a-half-mile contest before going on to claim Group One glory in the Irish St Leger at the Curragh.
Having looked as good as ever when making a winning return in the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan in late March before a narrow reverse in last month's Yorkshire Cup, Brown Panther was set to return to Ascot as a leading contender for next Thursday's feature event, but he will now be on the sidelines.
Part-owner and former footballer Michael Owen posted on Twitter: "Absolutely gutted to announce that Brown Panther injured his near fore leg this morning and is out of the Ascot Gold Cup on Thursday."
Absolutely gutted to announce that Brown Panther injured his near fore leg this morning and is out of The Ascot Gold Cup on Thursday.
— michael owen (@themichaelowen) June 13, 2015