Paul Cole hopes X-rays May 30 will help unravel the mystery behind Royal Scotsman's tame display in the May 27 Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1).
Cole trains the 3-year-old in partnership with son Oliver and, after consulting owners Jim and Fitri Hay, supplemented the colt for the Curragh classic after his fine third in the Two Thousand Guineas (G1) at Newmarket.
That effort contributed to his starting 6-4 favorite for the weekend highlight, but he finished ninth of the 11 runners under Jamie Spencer.
"We just can't work out why," Cole said May 29, "but he's terribly sore on both front feet. It wasn't the ground, which was fine, but he's very sore. Me and the vet looked at him this morning and there is no obvious reason. He was never going and didn't pick up the bridle on the way to start, and didn't pick it up in the race.
"There will be further investigation tomorrow with some X-rays, but just to look at the horse, he's in superb condition."
Royal Scotsman won the Richmond Stakes (G2) at Glorious Goodwood last year and was also second in the Dewhurst (G1) as a juvenile.
"He was totally fluent when he got on the box before he left," Cole added. "He didn't canter over there and was fine walking. We'll know more after these X-rays and once things have settled down. He was slightly unlucky in the Two Thousand Guineas, when he was a bit free and saw too much daylight, but he never went at the Curragh. You can't have a really good horse running like that without a reason. It was very disappointing, but we will get him back on track."
Galeron was a place behind Royal Scotsman in the Two Thousand Guineas, but in front of him when fifth in Ireland.
He is trained in Lambourn by Charlie Hills, who said: "He's danced every dance and has had three runs already this year. He hit the line really well on Saturday and looked like he'd get further than a mile.
"There's the Hampton Court Stakes (G3) at Royal Ascot for him, which is a mile and two furlongs, although we could wait for the July meeting at Newmarket and the Sir Henry Cecil Stakes if we keep him to a mile, and then maybe the Sussex Stakes (G1).
"It depends how it comes out of the race and we'll see how he is in a week, but he's a very nice horse and is very tough. He loves his racing and he's not just a 3-year-old, he's a lovely horse to have in the yard."
