'It's a shocker' - Highclere bemoan medication mix-up which rules filly out of Newmarket Group 2

Harry Herbert has described Soprano’s absence from Friday’s bet365 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes as “a shocker for the filly’s shareholders” after she was withdrawn from the Group 2 having received medication meant for another horse.

Trained by George Boughey, Soprano had been a leading contender for the race after finishing third in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot last month. However, she was declared a non-runner on Thursday due to a “medication administration error”.

Herbert, the managing director of Soprano’s owners, Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, said the filly had been given ulcer medication that was due for a similar-looking horse at Boughey's yard. 

While the medication is permitted to be given to horses in training, it contains substances that are not allowed in a horse’s system on a raceday and is advised to not be given within 48 hours of running. 

The likelihood of Soprano returning a positive post-race sample for a prohibited substance led to her being withdrawn from the race, and Herbert said: “It’s one of these unfortunate scenarios as she was given a dose of medication accidentally. 

"I believe it was given to her rather than another chestnut filly in the neighbouring box to her. It is nothing that will cause her any harm – I think it was GastroGard or something similar – but she cannot run.

“It’s simply a staffing error on this occasion. It’s embarrassing for George and it’s a shocker for the filly’s shareholders, but we have to turn the page and move on.”

George Boughey provided the Highclere team with a big win in last year's 1,000 GuineasCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Herbert said Boughey, who trained Cachet to win the 1,000 Guineas last year for Highclere, was planning to reroute Soprano to the Group 3 Keeneland Princess Margaret Stakes on July 29 having been forced to bypass Friday’s contest.

“It’s a first for me in my time doing this, something like 30 years now, and I have to say the owners have been remarkably good in their response to this as they’ve gone from having the second favourite in a Group 2 at Newmarket to not being able to run,” Herbert said.

“I think we’ll probably look at something like the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot on King George day for her now. Nobody is more distressed about this than George and his team as the filly is very highly thought of.”

With Soprano a non-runner, four fillies are set to go to post for the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes headed by Star Of Mystery, who landed the Listed Empress Stakes over the same course and distance last time out.

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