Eagle Regiment will be given until this morning to overcome a hoof injury, but his chances of running seem slim after his condition had failed to improve yesterday. While the injury to his horse's near fore hoof wasn't serious from a long-term perspective, trainer Manfred Man Ka-leung admitted it would be difficult to get it right by raceday.
"It's a time factor. If the race was on Sunday or Monday he would be fine but Saturday makes it harder," Man said yesterday morning.
"It's nothing serious and he's been treated but we don't know if he will make the race. He's very sensitive on his near fore hoof after a small injury there."
Emirates Racing Authority veterinary steward David Sykes said there hadn't been much change in the condition of Eagle Regiment.
"He wasn't any worse, but he wasn't any better, it's just a waiting game," he said.
Making Man's job more difficult is the fact he cannot use anti-inflammatories between now and the race, and staff are treating the horse around the clock with poultices and soaking the hoof in warm salty water.
"They're just trying to improve the circulation and let the anti-inflammatories do their work," said Sykes, whose official inspection this morning will determine whether Eagle Regiment will take his place in the field.
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