Teo Derby dream looks to be over

Jim Bolger has all but extinguished any lingering hopes the sidelined Teofilo will make the line up for the Vodafone Derby at Epsom next month.

Speculation has been mounting as to when last year’s champion two-year-old would return to the track after he was forced to miss his engagement in the Stan James 2000 Guineas with heat behind a knee.

Bookmakers removed him from the Epsom betting after news of his setback broke on Thursday, and Bolger said today the Galileo colt, who had been the red-hot favourite for both Classics through the winter months, will be taking it steadily for the next few weeks.

He told Racing UK: “He is more or less the same as he was, except the heat has abated somewhat. He is only marginally sore at this stage, but because of the horse he is we have to make sure that everything is right with him before we start back.

“We are going to give him whatever number of weeks is required on the easy list. We are not going to worry about which race we go for further down the line. We will just try and get him right and produce him right on the day when the time comes.

“Epsom would look doubtful. We will get him back when it is right for him to come back and we will be going the safe route with him, we won’t be taking any chances.

Reflecting on the Guineas, for which his charge was favourite through the winter, Bolger said: “I thought it was a very good race and a very good winner (in Cockney Rebel).

“I was delighted for Geoff Huffer and I was delighted for Aidan (O’Brien) that his horses ran well – it looked a very good Guineas.

“I am very happy that my horse was the best around last year and I can verify that contrary to what people have said he did a brilliant piece of fast work last Saturday week and I was very, very pleased with him.

“We will review the situation over the next couple of weeks, but whatever time he is going to need he is going to get. I am not going to rush him back.

“There have been no half-truths – everything I have said in relation to this horse is exactly what I have believed to be the truth at that point in time.

“I don’t need any half-truths. I have been around a good while now and I have survived, and if I was dealing in half-truths I wouldn’t have survived as long as I have.”