Danedream out of Arc

Danedream has been officially scratched from the Prix de l`Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday. News broke on Monday evening that Cologne racecourse, where Peter Schiergen`s fantastic mare is stabled, was to be dramatically placed into quarantine. The German track has been shut down for three months after a horse tested positive for a serious equine infection of the blood.

All horses based at Cologne cannot leave the racecourse, including Danedream, a brilliant winner of the Longchamp feature 12 months ago. France Galop`s media manager Julien Pescatore said: "There is a quarantine period of 90 days, and for that reason Danedream will not be able to run in the Arc. It is really sad that she will not be able to run, but there is nothing we can do about it."

Eighteen horses, including Investec Derby winner Camelot, remain in contention. The timing of the closure of Cologne racecourse could not have been worse for Danedream`s connections. Patrick Barbe, racing manager for her part-owner Teruya Yoshida, said on Tuesday morning: "The quarantine is round the race track in Cologne and nothing can come in and out of there for three months. That situation at the moment is final and binding.

"If the race was in two weeks they might have found a solution, but with time being so short to the deadline for the race it has proved too difficult."