Hardline winning the 2015 Karaka Million
Trish Dunell
Talented three-year-old Hardline has had to undergo a second throat operation but trainer Liam Birchley hopes he can be back racing before the end of the Brisbane winter carnival.
Hardline was a $130,000 purchase from the draft of Hallmark Stud at the 2014 NZB Select Yearling Sale, and has won four of his six starts including last year's Karaka Million in New Zealand.
Since then he has been dogged by breathing problems and has had only three runs this season, winning twice.
He had a wind operation and was going well enough to be nominated for the Mick Dittman Plate (1000m) on Saturday but was not among the acceptors.
"You wouldn't believe he had exactly the same thing," Birchley said.
"Hardline had an operation on Friday and he seems to have come through OK.
"We will scope him in ten days time and if he comes through all clear we will press on for the late winter races."
Hardline was a $130,000 purchase from the draft of Hallmark Stud at the 2014 NZB Select Yearling Sale, and has won four of his six starts including last year's Karaka Million in New Zealand.
Since then he has been dogged by breathing problems and has had only three runs this season, winning twice.
He had a wind operation and was going well enough to be nominated for the Mick Dittman Plate (1000m) on Saturday but was not among the acceptors.
"You wouldn't believe he had exactly the same thing," Birchley said.
"Hardline had an operation on Friday and he seems to have come through OK.
"We will scope him in ten days time and if he comes through all clear we will press on for the late winter races."