Amarula
Race Images Palmerston North
Smart three-year-old Amarula continues to make good progress following surgery.
He had his summer campaign halted by injury and hasn't raced since he finished seventh in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas at Riccarton.
"He pulled up sore after that and we thought it was muscular so we put him in the paddock," trainer Peter McKay said.
"He seemed fine when he came back, but he was sore again after he trialled so we had him x-rayed and he's had to have a bone chip taken out.
"We were lucky it wasn't a big chip, enough to annoy him but not enough to cause any cartilage damage."
Amarula was boxed for five weeks after the operation and he has recently returned to McKay's stable.
"He may have a race toward the end of the season," he said. "We'll have a look at what's around and if there isn't anything then he can have a break before he comes back to get ready for the spring."
Amarula has won four of his 10 starts, including the Gr.2 Hawke's Bay Guineas, and finished runner-up in the Gr.2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial.
Meanwhile, stablemate Antonio Lombardo is enjoying time off following his fast-finishing fifth last time out in the Gr.1 NRM Sprint at Te Rapa.
"We thought about going to Otaki for the Group One on Saturday, but he had been racing every couple of weeks and it may have been too much so he's in the paddock," McKay said.
"I think we'll get him ready for the Easter Handicap – he's been hitting the line really well in his last few sprint runs." – NZ Racing Desk.
He had his summer campaign halted by injury and hasn't raced since he finished seventh in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas at Riccarton.
"He pulled up sore after that and we thought it was muscular so we put him in the paddock," trainer Peter McKay said.
"He seemed fine when he came back, but he was sore again after he trialled so we had him x-rayed and he's had to have a bone chip taken out.
"We were lucky it wasn't a big chip, enough to annoy him but not enough to cause any cartilage damage."
Amarula was boxed for five weeks after the operation and he has recently returned to McKay's stable.
"He may have a race toward the end of the season," he said. "We'll have a look at what's around and if there isn't anything then he can have a break before he comes back to get ready for the spring."
Amarula has won four of his 10 starts, including the Gr.2 Hawke's Bay Guineas, and finished runner-up in the Gr.2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial.
Meanwhile, stablemate Antonio Lombardo is enjoying time off following his fast-finishing fifth last time out in the Gr.1 NRM Sprint at Te Rapa.
"We thought about going to Otaki for the Group One on Saturday, but he had been racing every couple of weeks and it may have been too much so he's in the paddock," McKay said.
"I think we'll get him ready for the Easter Handicap – he's been hitting the line really well in his last few sprint runs." – NZ Racing Desk.