Injured Archipenko out of Champion Stakes

Archipenko is to miss the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday week because of a foot injury.

The four-year-old should have worked on the Rowley Mile on Thursday but that was put back 24 hours after he pulled off the shoe from his near fore.

However, trainer Mike de Kock discovered the Group One winner was still not 100%.

"He's not sound this morning. It's nothing major, it's just going to cost us running in the Champion Stakes," said the South African handler.

"It's a major setback not to be running in the race but in terms of the horse's wellbeing, it's not a major setback.

"At this stage we're not even sure what it is. I sent the horse off to the vets to have a scan and a X-ray but, at the moment, we can't find anything.

"I'm hoping it's only a niggly thing that's going to cost us a week or two. Then we can have him ready for Hong Kong in December."

Archipenko, runner-up in the Arlington Million on his latest start, was third favourite on the exchanges for Champion Stakes honours.