Hungary’s star sprinter Overdose has been scratched from next week’s G2 Temple Stakes at Haydock Park and his forthcoming clash with Takeover Target and Scenic Blast at Royal Ascot is in the balance.

The Temple Stakes on May 23 was going to be the first of a four race programme for Overdose in England.  An infected hoof failed to respond to treatment but connections are hoping he can still contest the King’s Stand Stakes and Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

The four-year-old colt was injured during his record-breaking victory in the Hungarian Grand Prix at Kincsem Park in April.  Ridden by Christophe Soumillon, Overdose completed 1000m in a blistering 54.60s which was an amazing three seconds faster than the previous course record.  Unfortunately, he lost a shoe in the run and pulled up lame.

Overdose, who runs in the colours of the Hungarian national flag, has a huge following in his home country and his exploits are attracting worldwide attention.  The ‘Budapest Bullet’ has now won 12 races in a row since breaking through at Kincsem Park in June 2007.

Overdose (4c Starborough – Our Poppet by Warning) is trained by Sandor Ribarszki for owner Zoltan Mikoczy who bought him for just 2,000gns at the Tattersalls Yearling Sale in December 2006.

Overdose was primed to win the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp on Arc day last year but a bizarre turn of events saw him go home to Hungary empty-handed.  The Starborough colt blitzed his rivals in France’s premier sprint but the race was declared void because of a false start.

The majority of the field pulled up but Overdose blitzed past the post at Longchamp for what should have been a famous success.  He did not contest the re-run after the last race but his time was faster than that recorded by the official winner Marchand D’Or.

Overdose was bred by Graham and Di Robinson at Whatton Manor Stud in Nottinghamshire.  They sold him cheaply as a yearling but despite the low price, they have no regrets.

“We are just so overjoyed for all of his connections, whom we are friends with,” Graham Robinson said.  “And he’s doing a very good job of building the profile of his dam Our Poppet.”

Our Poppet has a yearling filly by Bertolini, a filly by Clodovil foaled on March 8 and she has just been scanned positive to Darley shuttler Exceed And Excel.