Following another below-par performance on the weekend trainer Aidan O'Brien has declared Caravaggio as extremely unlikely to travel down-under for a tilt at The Everest in October.
The three-year-old disappointed when a lacklustre sixth in Sunday's Group I Prix Maurice de Gheest (1300m) at Deauville and O'Brien told the Racing Post the colt is "very sore"
"We think there could be an issue with his shoes and that he's not getting proper traction when he races," O'Brien said.
"He was very sore in front this morning (Monday)."
O'Brien said a change to the way Caravaggio had been shod could explain the problem.
"Before he ran in the July Cup we put on different shoes with rubber between his feet and the shoes," O'Brien said.
"We'll give him a week to ten days before reviewing the situation and making plans. Hopefully we'll be able to resolve the problem.
"After what happened at Newmarket, and again at Deauville, I'd say it's unlikely he'll be going to Australia for the Everest in October."
