Sakhee’s Soldier
Trish Dunell
The racing future of Sakhee's Soldier is in the balance following a rare injury suffered in his Australian debut.
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes winner pulled up sore after he had finished out of the money in the Gr.2 A.D. Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast.
"It looks like he's got a tear in the suspensory ligament of a hind leg, which is very unusual," part-owner Alasdair Chisholm said.
"Murray has been training for 40 years and he said he's never had that happen before – obviously it's not uncommon in a front leg, but it's quite rare in a back leg.
"The vet who has been seeing him is overseas and he's back this week so we're waiting for him to assess things but whatever happens it will be a long period of rehabilitation, at least nine months.
"It's just a real pity as his run here in the Easter for fourth was huge from the wide draw and we thought he was right back to his best.
"He'll be staying over in Queensland and even if he doesn't race again we have been very lucky to have had a Group One winner, he's done us all so proud."
Meanwhile, Turn Me Loose is still enjoying a break before the multiple Group One winner returns to build up for a return to Australia.
"He's spelling and we'll have him back up for the Melbourne spring," Forsman said. "He's having a decent break and we haven't set a race programme in place yet." – NZ Racing Desk.
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes winner pulled up sore after he had finished out of the money in the Gr.2 A.D. Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast.
"It looks like he's got a tear in the suspensory ligament of a hind leg, which is very unusual," part-owner Alasdair Chisholm said.
"Murray has been training for 40 years and he said he's never had that happen before – obviously it's not uncommon in a front leg, but it's quite rare in a back leg.
"The vet who has been seeing him is overseas and he's back this week so we're waiting for him to assess things but whatever happens it will be a long period of rehabilitation, at least nine months.
"It's just a real pity as his run here in the Easter for fourth was huge from the wide draw and we thought he was right back to his best.
"He'll be staying over in Queensland and even if he doesn't race again we have been very lucky to have had a Group One winner, he's done us all so proud."
Meanwhile, Turn Me Loose is still enjoying a break before the multiple Group One winner returns to build up for a return to Australia.
"He's spelling and we'll have him back up for the Melbourne spring," Forsman said. "He's having a decent break and we haven't set a race programme in place yet." – NZ Racing Desk.