Kentucky Derby 2011 runner-up - Nehro surgery success says owner Ahmed Zayat, Breeders’ Cup plans
Three-year-old Nehro is a bay colt owned by Zayat Stables LLC
and trained by Steven Asmussen. This runner-up of the Kentucky Derby had a bone chip in his right ankle after he emerged from the Belmont Stakes on Saturday 12th June 2011, for which he needed surgery.
Owner, Ahmed Zayat felt that an injury must have occurred in the race, and, this is very likely, because the veterinarians deemed it a fresh injury.
This injury could explain Nehro’s dismal performance at the Belmont Stakes.
However, in retrospect he turns out to be a very brave horse to have run despite the injury and still managed to finish fourth. Before the injury was detected, Asmussen’s assistant, Toby Sheets, was confused as to why Nehro ate mud during the race and did
not finish with a clean bridle. It seems all this was a consequence of the injury.
His surgery was scheduled for Wednesday 15th June 2011, for which he flew from New York to Kentucky. He was operated upon by Dr. Larry Bramlage at the Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington.
Prior to the surgery Ahmed Zayat said:
“I am looking forward to getting him back to health and show what he’s made of”.
He remained hopeful of Nehro’s career even before the surgery by saying that this was not the end of his career but just a minor setback.
However, he added that he could not say anything with certainty until the surgeons were through with the procedure.
According to Ahmed Zayat, the surgery went “extremely well” and the colt might recover in time for the Breeder’s Cup this November. Nehro will be allowed to rest completely for two weeks following which he will have to be hand-walked for three weeks, as
part of his recovery plan.
The tentative plan for now is that after the initial five weeks Nehro will resume training but the exact plan will be finalized by trainer Steven Asmussen, depending on what shape the colt is in.
However, Zayat has no intentions of sending Nehro to a farm for recovery. In fact he is already back at his stable at Churchill Downs, being looked after by trainer Asmussen. Zayat says that although his hopes for the Breeder’s Cup are high: “We will let
the horse tell us when he’s ready”.
Nehro has earned $885,140 in just seven starts and Zayat plans to keep him training even when he turns four. Zayat feels that this ‘versatile’ son of Mineshaft is a very serious horse, who is doing everything right.
One hopes that Nehro soon recovers and is able to take part in the Breeder’s Cup, which is a definite highlight for any horse’s career.
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