Mirage Dancer has been ruled out of the Investec Derby but could still bid for Royal Ascot honours.
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained son of Frankel won on his only start as a juvenile last year and returned to action with a fair fourth behind Derby favourite Cliffs Of Moher in the Dee Stakes at Chester earlier this month, doing some eyecatching work late on.
However, connections of Mirage Dancer believe a trip to Epsom may be the wrong move at present and while the King Edward VII Stakes at Ascot next month a possible alternative, the colt will not be hurried in his preparation.
"He is fine and it is not that he has been working badly, but going into the Derby you want all the right bells to be ringing.
"He is still a work in progress and we still hope he will be top class," said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah.
"I think with a horse like this, you have just got to give them a little bit of space to grow up and mature.
"It is not impossible he will go to the King Edward VII at Royal Ascot."
