Owner Johnson Chen has unexpectedly pulled the plug on a trip to Dubai for the NZ bred and reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year Werther.

Trainer John Moore said he was surprised and disappointed to receive a text from Johnson Chen saying that "in consideration of the climate change, travelling pains and the fact that Werther has just recovered from injury" Chen had decided the horse should not go to the US$6 million Dubai Turf.

"I'm disappointed because I thought the horse had a great chance of winning the race but I'm disappointed too because of the trouble that the Jockey Club people took to make sure we could go," Moore said.

"The club made contact with Dubai to ensure we had an invitation and it was issued 10 hours before Werther ran in the Gold Cup on Sunday and, at that stage, if Werther won the Gold Cup, Johnson had given me a green light to go. There didn't seem any change of heart after the race, after what was a very good win, so you can imagine how surprised I was to get this text.