The four-year-old fractured a near front pastern as he was cantering to the start of the feature race and required immediate veterinary attention. The gelding was loaded onto the horse ambulance and taken to the University of Melbourne Veterinary Clinic in Werribee where the injury was diagnosed.
Co-trainer Jamie Richards was feeling a little more upbeat on Sunday morning
after witnessing the event on television on Saturday afternoon where he was
watching on in the aftermath of the triumph of stablemate Embellish in the Gr.
1 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m)."We were like everyone else at that stage in that we didn't really know what had happened and all we could see was the horse with people milling around him," he said.
"Once they got him to the clinic the picture became a little clearer and as of Sunday it looks a lot brighter for the horse than what was initially thought.
"He has fractured his near side pastern which he will have scanned on Monday to determine what surgery may or may not be required and the full extent of the injury.
"The reports on Sunday have been quite positive and once we get the scan results we will know whether or not he will be able to make it back to the track.
"He will have a long break ahead of him but there is certainly a possibility he could race again."
Richards was philosophical about the incident which could have been a lot worse had it occurred during the race.
"It's a bitter blow for his owners and the team at Te Akau but we are very thankful it happened when it did and not during the race," he said.
"It's just one of those things that can happen in racing and you do have to take the bad with the good."
Richards admitted while it was difficult witnessing the scenes in Melbourne he was still on a high following the win by Embellish.
"David Ellis bought this horse to win the 2000 Guineas so when you can achieve a result like we did then it makes it a very special occasion," he said.
"He was bought with the intention of making a stallion career for him and a win like this will do nothing but enhance that opportunity for him as he is a very good galloper." – NZ Racing Desk
