Leading Light Injured In Cup Defeat

LEADING LIGHT INJURED IN CUP DEFEAT 
Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor’s Leading Light (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), seventh of nine as the favorite in Saturday’s G2 Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot, is unlikely to race again after suffering suspensory injuries in running. Leading Light, who was returning to the scene of his G1 Gold Cup victory at Royal Ascot in June, was one of a handful of horses hampered in the early straight by eventual winner Forgotten Rules (Ire)(Nayef). Forgotten Rules’ rider Pat Smullen received a three-day ban. 
“It was an unfortunate incident and the unfortunate part was the horse came out of it the wrong side,” trainer Aidan O’Brien said. “He has two very bad injuries to both his front legs and there’s a chance he might never race again. It’s very disappointing.” 
In addition to his defeat of defending winner Estimate (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) in the Gold Cup, Leading Light won last year’s G1 St Leger, as well as the G3 Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot. He has won eight of 12 outings, including six group stakes.