Novellist forced to miss Arc with fever

German champion Novellist, who would have been one of the top contenders in

Sunday's Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, spiked a fever that has ruled him

out of the Longchamp showpiece.

"He had a temperature this morning, and it has developed even more, so there

is no way we can let him travel to Paris," trainer Andreas Wohler told PA Sport.

This marks the second straight year that German hopes were dashed by illness,

albeit in quite different circumstances. Last October, 2011 Arc heroine

Danedream was stuck in quarantine because of a swamp fever outbreak at her

Cologne base. Although she was herself healthy, she was barred from traveling to

mount a title defense.

"It's unbelievable and very disappointing," Wohler said of Novellist's

last-minute setback, "but he has given us some great moments this year."

Novellist has won his last five starts, including a course record-setting

romp in the July 27 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at Ascot. The Wohler

charge subsequently prepped with a low-key score in the September 1 Grosser

Preis von Baden, the same race that had launched Danedream to Arc glory.

The trainer added that Novellist might not be done for the season.

"He will get an entry in the Japan Cup, but it is much too early to think

about that now," Wohler said.

Novellist's withdrawal leaves a field of 17, headed by last year's near-misser

Orfevre.

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