Sore foot forces scratch of Roy H from Dubai Golden Shaheen

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Champion sprinter Roy H has been withdrawn from Saturday’s Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen because of an injured left-front foot, trainer Peter Miller said early Thursday morning.

Roy H has been battling the foot problem, thought to be an abscess, since arriving here in Dubai from California last week. Miller trained Roy H lightly hoping the abscess would burst, which would bring relief from soreness and set the healing process in motion, but as of Thursday morning the hoof still was hot and tender, and Miller was out of time.

“There’s no reason to prolong it,” Miller said. “Now we can concentrate on getting him sound and ready to come home.”

Roy H is scheduled to return to California during the middle of next week. The foot is being regularly soaked in Epsom salts to try and draw out the infection, and now that Roy H has been scratched, Miller said pads have been affixed to his front feet to alleviate tenderness.

Roy H, winner of the last two Breeders’ Cup Sprints, was third, beaten three-quarters of a length, as the favorite in the 2018 Golden Shaheen and would have been solidly favored again Saturday. In his absence, X Y Jet, second in the 2018 renewal, could assume the favorite’s role.