Owen Burrows is at a loss to explain Gethin’s underwhelming performance in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.
With an impressive comeback win at Kempton followed by a narrow defeat at the hands of Ombudsman in Sandown’s Brigadier Gerard Stakes at the end of May, hopes were high that the Wathnan Racing-owned four-year-old could prove his worth at Group One level on his return to the Esher circuit on Saturday.
However, after racing enthusiastically behind the pacesetting outsider Flushing Meadows, Gethin faltered to finish a well beaten fifth of seven, 15 lengths behind the impressive winner Constitution River.
Burrows said: “He seems all right and nothing has come to light. We’ll just have to put a line through that one I think.
“It (racing keenly) wasn’t enough I didn’t think really (to explain the run). There’s potentially a few little bits and pieces, but not enough to make an excuse I don’t think.
“He obviously didn’t run up to form at all. He’ll have a bit of a break now and we’ll take stock.”
Another Burrows inmate set for some mid-season downtime is Raaheeb, who was last seen finishing fourth in the Irish Derby.
The Sea The Stars colt was previously ruled out of the Derby at Epsom after returning from his Sandown Classic Trial win “a bit stiff” and his trainer revealed he has come back from Ireland in similar condition.
He added: “He’s a bit similar to how he was after Sandown, so he’s having a bit of a break now as well.
“We’re not sure where we’ll go with him yet.”
