'This sport can humble you - but we'll be back' - non-runner heartache for Head

There was disappointment for the French and Spanish connections of Sibila Spain, who briefly ducked her head under the front of the stalls, then sat down momentarily before the start of the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes.

To the disbelief of jockey Aurelien Lemaitre she was taken out and immediately declared a non-runner by the starter, rather than undergoing a veterinary check as would be the case in France.

The stewards' report said: "The starter reported that Sibila Spain was unruly, tried to go under the front of the stalls, and was withdrawn. Christopher Head [son of trainer Freddy Head} was informed that the filly could not run until the day after passing a stalls test."

Head has now saddled a Royal Ascot entry but must wait for a first runner, although he showed admirable coolness afterwards.

After checking over the daughter of Frankel he confirmed that, despite the disappointing experience, he and owners Yeguada Centurion would stick to the programme laid out for Sibila Spain over the winter, which means a trip to Newmarket's July festival.

"The filly suffered no harm at all and everything is okay, so we're going to stick with the plan," said Head. "She will go on to the Falmouth now. It's a reminder of how quickly this sport can humble you – but we'll be back."

Sibila Spain finished fourth in last season's Prix de Diane and gave Head the biggest win of his short career last month when landing the Group 2 Prix du Muguet.

The team had left no stone unturned in preparation for the Duke of Cambridge Stakes, even enlisting the the help of Freddy Head's retired travelling head lad Regis Barbedette, the man who took Goldikova and Solow around the world.

Sibila Spain was a well-backed fourth favourite and her withdrawal led to a 15p in the pound deduction to winning bets and the loss of the third place for each-way terms.

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