Destination removed from Guineas betting

Dubai Destination was this afternoon removed from the betting on the Sagitta 2000 Guineas by Coral after the bookmakers received reports that Godolphin`s Classic hope was unlikely to make the Newmarket race.

Dubai Destination had been the 9-2 second favourite for the 2000 Guineas. Coral have now trimmed Hawk Wing to 3-1 clear favourite from 7-2.

'The bookies grapevine is rarely wrong and it appears that the chances of Dubai Destination making the Guineas are slim to none', said Coral spokesman Simon Clare.

Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford did warn last week that no decision on Dubai Destination`s campaign was likely until the end of March.

He told the Racing Post: 'Dubai Destination was behind some of the other colts in terms of how far his build-up had gone during the winter, but he`s back in full training now and we will have an indication as to what his programme will be towards the end of March.

'He`s got multiple entries. Apart from the Kentucky Derby, he will also get a 2,000 Guineas entry and will be entered in other races, too.

'The issue will not be forced with him to meet one particular target because the focus will be long term, but we are not far enough forward with him to be able to say he will be aimed at the Guineas or the Kentucky Derby or any other race.'

The colt had an injury which ruled him out of the Dewhurst Stakes at the end of a juvenile campaign last year that included a defeat of Rock Of Gibraltar in the Rothmans Royals Champagne Stakes at Doncaster last September.

The Godolphin-owned pair Meshaheer and Waldenburg have both attracted ante-post backing in recent days and are now 10-1 and 14-1 respectively from 16-1.

Coral bet: 3-1 Hawk Wing (from 7-2), 7-1 Rock Of Gibraltar, 10-1 Meshaheer (from 16-1), 12-1 Tendulkar, 14-1 Waldenburg, 16-1 Landseer, 20-1 bar.