Coolibah (right)
Race Images Christchurch
Lesley Munro has given her unbeaten hurdler Coolibah this winter off, although the exciting jumper won't be entirely inactive.
The Pukekohe Park owner-trainer is prepared to give the six-year-old all the time he needs before he resumes his career following surgery.
"He's good, but he's not going to race this term and I'll have him ready for next season," Munro said.
"I want to give him a decent amount of time off rather than bring him back half-way through the winter and rush anything.
"He's still only a young horse and he's an amazing jumper – it's a test of patience, but he's worth it."
Coolibah was successful in his first look at the small fences at Hastings last June and he then won again at Te Rapa before heading south to add the Sydenham Hurdles to his record.
The Istidaad gelding was withdrawn from the Grand National Hurdles with a suspected stone bruise, which subsequently turned out to be more serious.
"He had to have bone chips taken out of his knee so they operated and tidied that up," Munro said.
"He looks amazing now and he's not the sort of horse who gets too big when he's spelling. I'll have him back to do a bit of quiet work and then turn him out again."
Meanwhile, Munro also has high hopes for Coolibah's half-brother Raaj, who has won two races on the flat and has finished runner-up in his last two appearances.
"He's only a four-year-old and he's done a bit of jumping work with Shelley (Houston) as well," she said. – NZ Racing Desk.
The Pukekohe Park owner-trainer is prepared to give the six-year-old all the time he needs before he resumes his career following surgery.
"He's good, but he's not going to race this term and I'll have him ready for next season," Munro said.
"I want to give him a decent amount of time off rather than bring him back half-way through the winter and rush anything.
"He's still only a young horse and he's an amazing jumper – it's a test of patience, but he's worth it."
Coolibah was successful in his first look at the small fences at Hastings last June and he then won again at Te Rapa before heading south to add the Sydenham Hurdles to his record.
The Istidaad gelding was withdrawn from the Grand National Hurdles with a suspected stone bruise, which subsequently turned out to be more serious.
"He had to have bone chips taken out of his knee so they operated and tidied that up," Munro said.
"He looks amazing now and he's not the sort of horse who gets too big when he's spelling. I'll have him back to do a bit of quiet work and then turn him out again."
Meanwhile, Munro also has high hopes for Coolibah's half-brother Raaj, who has won two races on the flat and has finished runner-up in his last two appearances.
"He's only a four-year-old and he's done a bit of jumping work with Shelley (Houston) as well," she said. – NZ Racing Desk.
