Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum's Vercingetorix (SAf) (Silvano {Ger}), who disappointed in the G1 Jebel Hatta at Meydan Saturday when checking home sixth, has emerged from the race with a pulled sesamoidal ligament and will not race again. Trainer Mike de Kock reported on his website that Christophe Soumillon felt something was amiss with the 5-year-old entering the straight. “Christophe couldn't persevere with Vercingetorix but he said the horse wanted to carry on, he was trying to run to the end which shows just how courageous he is, he had more rivals behind him than ahead of him at the post despite his discomfort”, said De Kock. “It's a big setback, Vercingetorix would have been a serious runner for us on World Cup night, we had him on top of his game for this race, he was extremely well”, the South-African trainer continued. “But we have to face reality. This is what I hate about racing. One gets up only to go down. I guess it happens in most other sports. Thankfully our horse is okay, the injury is not life-threatening.”
Vercingetorix won seven of his 10 starts, including the G1 Daily News 2000 in his home country, the 2014 G1 Jebel Hatta and a pair of Group 2 events. He also ran second to Just A Way (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in last year's G1 Dubai Duty Free. A stud career now looms for the son of leading South-African-based stallion Silvano, with Mike de Kock expressing confidence that the horse would be syndicated to stand in his native country. “Vercingetorix's owner, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum has agreed that, ideally, [Vercingetorix] should return to South Africa as a stallion. Jehan Malherbe of Form Bloodstock and I will present any proposals received to the Sheikh for consideration,” de Kock said.
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