Royal Estimate fails dope test

The Queen with her daughter Princess Royal welcoming Estimate after the Ascot Gold Cup

Estimate, Queen Elizabeth’s Ascot Gold Cup winner, has tested positive for the banned substance morphine, Buckingham Palace announced. The shocking development follows news late last week that traces of morphine had been found in samples provided by five horses, Estimate among them.

Apparently, it is thought the positive drug tests may have been a consequence of eating contaminated feed.

Estimate, a five-year-old daughter of Monsun, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, was presented with the Cartier Stayer Award in November.

Sir Michael is working closely with the feed company involved to discover how contamination occurred prior to delivery at his stables.