Roy H scratched from Dubai Golden Shaheen

Two-time champion sprinter Roy H, the early favorite for Saturday’s $2.5 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1), was withdrawn Thursday with a foot issue.

The official Emirates Racing Association announcement listed it as lameness in his left front. According to Daily Racing Form and Blood-Horse, Roy H is dealing with an abscess.

Brian Trump, racing manager for co-owner Rockingham Ranch, tweeted about the unfortunate setback for the Peter Miller trainee:

“When Roy arrived in Dubai, he developed a sore foot which Pete and his team immediately attempted to treat. Unfortunately, the only cure for his foot is time off to heal.

“So that is what he will get, time off until he tells us he is ready with our goal of pointing towards the Breeders Cup.”

The winner of the past two runnings of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), Roy H returned with a dominant repeat in the Palos Verdes (G2). The seven-year-old had completed his preparation at Miller’s San Luis Rey base by firing a bullet six furlongs in 1:11.60 on March 16.

Roy H had drawn the rail in the Golden Shaheen. Now Imperial Hint will end up with the innermost post in the about six-furlong dash, with fellow American shippers X Y Jet and Promises Fulfilled in the next two spots.

X Y Jet, twice a near-misser in this race, is also co-owned by Rockingham Ranch. Gelfenstein Farm is the partner in X Y Jet, trained by Jorge Navarro, while Roy H’s other co-owner is David Bernsen.

Rockingham and Bernsen still have champion Stormy Liberal, likewise trained by Miller, in the Al Quoz Sprint (G1) on turf Saturday. Miller has an additional Al Quoz chance in Belvoir Bay as well as Gray Magician in the UAE Derby (G2).