Excelebration to join Aidan O'Brien's yard Excelebration will miss next month's Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin because of a dirty scope and has now joined Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle string. A controlling share of the classy miler was purchased by Blandford Bloodstock on behalf of Coolmore owners Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and John Magnier following his easy victory in the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury in August. His last run of 2011 - and for Marco Botti - was to finish second to Frankel in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on the inaugural British Champions Day in October. "It's a real shame as Excelebration was in superb form," said Tom Goff of Blandford Bloodstock. "He was working with great enthusiasm and giving Jamie Spencer a very good feel in his faster work. "Everyone was really looking forward to Hong Kong and hopefully finishing a great year on a real high. "Unfortunately, a dirty scope has revealed a slight infection and with a long flight in the offing plus not much time before the race, all the connections have agreed that it was in the horse's best interests to give Hong Kong a miss and wait for next season. "Marco Botti has done a truly magnificent job with Excelebration but he will be heading over to Ballydoyle just before Christmas. "It was always the understanding when the horse was purchased that he could be a flag-bearer for Ballydoyle in the four-year-old mile division next year, so let's hope that wish can come true." Botti said: "It's been an incredible year with Excelebration and I would like to thank my staff for all their excellent work with the colt. "We have had some wonderful days with him - especially in Paris - and it's a pity that a routine scope has ended his chances of winning the Group One in Hong Kong after his great runs at Longchamp and Ascot. "But I have advised the owners that it's best for the colt's long term future if we call it a day for this year."
