Spiked temperature puts Sovereignty’s Classic bid in jeopardy

Trainer Bill Mott has cast some doubt over the participation of Sovereignty in Saturday’s Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic after his superstar colt spiked a temperature.

The Godolphin-owned three-year-old is favourite for what is scheduled to be a stellar renewal of Del Mar feature, after a season which has seen him land the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes.

However, speaking to the gathered media at Del Mar on Tuesday morning, veteran trainer Mott – whose first of two Breeders’ Cup Classic victories was provided by the brilliant Cigar 30 years ago – revealed the Godolphin-owned Sovereignty will now be under observation and is not certain to line up this weekend.

“As we were getting ready to go to the draw/right after the draw he had a mild fever. He seemed to be doing very well otherwise – if we didn’t have a thermometer we wouldn’t have known anything, but he had a slightly elevated temperature and that remained through the night,” Mott explained.

“When we got here at 5.30am he still had a slight fever. He had had no medication at all so we have drawn blood and taken blood samples and part of the blood samples have come back and part of the blood samples are pending.

“Since 6am we gave him some medication to help with the fever and his temperature is down to normal right now, he’s eating everything and he looks fine, you saw him with his head out. He’s eating all his grain and he hasn’t missed an oat.

“He hasn’t left his feed all year long. He looks sharp, but right now there’s a possibility that he won’t make the race on Saturday.

“If we don’t feel he’s 100 per cent he’s not going to run. I would like to give myself 10 per cent wiggle room to monitor him for the next four or five days, but it’s important what happens overnight.

“If his temperature remains normal through the day and the night and he looks good and the blood comes back with a positive look to it we will reevaluate every day, and probably several times each day. Right now I just want everybody to know the situation.”