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Frankie Dettori's plan for a farewell tour in the 1,000 Guineas on Commissioning has been thwarted with the unbeaten filly's retirement from racing after a career-ending injury in training.
Commissioning, a daughter of Kingman and a winner of both a Group 1 and Group 2 race, had been the leading British-trained hope with a third favourite, but now must go to Highclere Stud in place of the race.
John & Thady Gosden, the joint-trainers, had previously encountered this situation with 1,000 Guineas hopeful Inspiral, who was ruled out of the Classic last year but went on to land two Group 1s in 2022. Robert Havlin, who was hoping to secure a first Group 1 win with Commissioning, expressed his disappointment and wished Sheikh Isa, the owner, all the best for the future.
With Commissioning's retirement, Dermot Weld 's Tahiyra has been cut to 5-2 and is now the favourite for the Qipco 1,000 Guineas on May 7. Weld has never won the 1,000 Guineas, but he did win the colts' equivalent with Refuse To Bend in 2003 and the Irish have a strong hand in the 62 entries for the Classic on May 6. Aidan O'Brien has 11 entries, the main ones being Auguste Rodin and Little Big Bear.
