2016 Hong Kong Horse of the Year Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) will be out at least three months after injuring himself during trackwork Saturday, reported South China Morning Post. A winner of the G1 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin and a Group 2 apiece in both his native New Zealand and across the Tasman in Australia, the Hong Kong Champion Middle Distance Horse lashed out at another horse leaving the track and injured a hind suspensory.
“He is a very aggressive horse and he can do this sort of thing at times,” trainer John Moore told South China Morning Post. “He was coming off the track after working and tried to kick another horse, a horse from another stable, and he missed and slipped over. In doing that, he has injured a suspensory behind and it is very similar to the injury that Dominant suffered. He will be out for three months and that means the internationals [Longines Hong Kong International Races] are scratched, but Werther should be right for the big spring races.”
On the comeback trail, 2015 Hong Kong Horse of the Year and Champion Miler Able Friend (Aus) (Shamardal), who has been recovered from a right front foot injury sustained in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile last December, returns from Australia on Sunday with the 1200-meter Premier Bowl his first target.
“He arrives Sunday night, Monday morning and he comes back with a clean bill of health from Ben [Mason],” Moore continued, speaking of his former veterinarian who worked for the Hong Kong Jockey Club. “His injury has healed, Ben is confident about him. We just have to take really good care of his feet but, as far as I'm concerned, we will see Able Friend back to his best again.”
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