William Haggas has suffered a major blow to his Royal Ascot plans after Economics was ruled out of the meeting after pulling a muscle.
Last year's Irish Champion Stakes (G1) winner had long been penciled in to make his seasonal return in the June 18 Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1).
Economics won four of his five starts as a 3-year-old, including the Dante Stakes (G2) at York. He missed the Epsom Derby (G1) but went on to beat dual Derby winner Auguste Rodin in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.
Haggas said June 10: "Unfortunately, Economics won't make Royal Ascot and is out in the short term, but it's no big deal and hopefully he can be back in action soon."
As part of his preparation for his first run at the royal meeting, Haggas had taken his 4-year-old Night of Thunder colt to Newbury last week for a racecourse gallop.
The Newmarket trainer added: "Economics had an awayday at Newbury, where he worked nicely and the most important thing was his scope was clean after the work. We were happy with him but we found he had pulled a muscle afterwards, so we've had to back off him since and I'm afraid we've run out of time for Ascot."
Beyond Ascot, Economics holds an entry in the July 5 Coral-Eclipse Stakes (G1) at Sandown. However, that would appear unlikely and he could be aimed at an Irish Champion Stakes repeat or the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1).
