Yibir suffers 'slight setback,' will miss Grade 1 Sword Dancer

Yibir, winner of last year's Breeders' Cup Turf, has suffered a "slight setback" and will not travel to the U.S. for an expected start in the Grade 1, $750,000 Sword Dancer at Saratoga on Aug. 27, owner and breeder Godolphin said Saturday.

A post on Twitter by the breeding and racing operation of Dubai's ruling Mahktoum family did not elaborate on the nature of the setback for the 4-year-old gelded son of Dubawi.

Though the tweet did not mention the Sword Dancer, a 1 1/2-mile turf race on Aug. 27 at Saratoga, trainer Charlie Appleby had indicated that was the next target for Yibir. The well-traveled colt most recently won the Princess Of Wales' Stakes (G2) by 2 1/2 lengths over Living Legend at Newmarket on July 7.

Yibir has won stakes in both Europe and the U.S. His American victories include the Breeders' Cup Turf and the Jockey Club Derby, both of which he won in 2021. Overall, the colt has a 16: 7-3-3 record and over $4 million in earnings.