Trainer Aidan O’Brien was forced to reconsider his racing plans on hearing the news that coughing has spread to his two-year olds at the Ballydoyle stable.
High Chaparral, the dual Derby winner, and several other big name horses have already been sidelined because of the bug which has now spread to O’Brien’s juveniles.
Hold That Tiger (11/10 favourite) and Ontario were both beaten in last Sunday’s Pheonix Stakes at the Curragh, with the favourite needing veterinary attention after the race.
"We've tested the horses who ran on Sunday and the results of those tests will haven't come back just yet, but Hold That Tiger and Ontario are both coughing," O'Brien said in today's Racing Post.
"Because of the situation there is no point talking about plans for horses just now," he added.
O’Brien was asked about a bug as early as June this year when Johannesburg disappointed at Royal Ascot and several other horses were withdrawn from racing in France.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s Rock of Gibraltar has, so far, avoided the bug, however. The holder of a record six consecutive Group 1 wins is resting.