萬得樂賽後受傷，緣盡凱旋門
TRIUMPH turned to despair for trainer Andre Fabre after the brilliant Manduro's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe challenge was abruptly ended by injury shortly after he recorded his latest impressive win in the Prix Foy at Longchamp on Sunday.
As revealed first on racingpost.co.uk on Sunday night, connections of the multiple Group 1-winning five-year-old conceded their horse may not race again after he was found to have suffered a suspected leg fracture to his off-hind.
Most bookmakers suspended betting on the Arc as news of the injury spread but Ladbrokes and Coral did issue revised prices, making Derby hero Authorized their favourite at 6-4 and 13-8 respectively with Prix Niel winner Soldier Of Fortune next best at 5-2 and 7-2 respectively. Both Coral and Totesport said they would refund bets made on Manduro for the Arc after his win.
Fabre was on Sunday night awaiting the results of x-rays but acknowledged Manduro's wonderful campaign was over.
"I don't know the results of the examination yet but he was lame behind after the raceand has probably suffered a small fracture," he said. "The vets are carrying out x-rays now. I knew there was a problem a few minutes after the race. It's a terrible blow but that's racing."
Paul Harley, racing manager to Baron Georg von Ullmann, who owns Manduro, said: "It doesn't look good for him. His career might be finished but we don't know the extent of the injury yet."
Manduro's performance on his first start over 1m4f had appeared to put Fabre firmly on course to clinching an eighth Arc victory after he had watched the horse ease through his preparatory examination.
Despite wins in the Prix Jacques Le Marois at a mile and the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at 1m2f this year, connections had been in little doubt that Manduro could stay further and, with the pacemaker Sommertag to ensure there was a suitable tempo, the five-year-old had no trouble dismissing the filly Mandesha by two and a half lengths.
On a hot Paris day and with ground quickening throughout the afternoon, Manduro was eased to the front a furlong and a half out by Stephane Pasquier and quickened away from the five-runner field.
However, a bump from Italian challenger Distant Way early in the straight had prompted Pasquier to look down at Manduro's legs and may have been the point at which the Arc dream ended.
Even so, in the immediate aftermath all had looked rosy for the champion as von Ullmann committed supplementing Manduro for the Arc, in which Fabre would be seeking a third successive win following Rail Link and Hurricane Run.
Von Ullmann has made winning the Arc one of his main racing goals and, following Shirocco's eclipse a year ago, was looking forward to having another crack.
Mandesha never threatened to beat Manduro but the Aga Khan team have not given up on the Arc yet and will consider fitting some headgear after Christophe Soumillon reported that she "put on the brakes" when asked to challenge.
"We might fit cheekpieces next time to help her concentrate at the end of her races," saidtrainer Alain de Royer Dupre.
Dragon Dancer was another three lengths behind Mandesha but he too will return for the Arc. "He ran a great race and he has now justified himself to run in the Arc," said trainer Geoff Wragg.
:zzzzzzzzz: :zzzzzzzzz: :zzzzzzzzz:
By Racing Post
[ 本帖最後由 S.WEEK 於 17/9/2007 07:54 AM 編輯 ]
|
