Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom scratched from the Dubai World Cup
Animal Kingdom will not be competing in the Dubai World Cup which is scheduled to take place at Meydan on 31st March, 2012. The four-year-old colt sustained an injury from a work out in the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida.
Trained by Graham Motion, the son of Leroidesanimaux, out of Dalicia, has an impressive racing record.
Motion has not determined how severe the injury is but it seems that the colt was sore in his near-hind leg – the same leg which was fractured in the Belmont Stakes the previous race. Speaking to the Daily Racing Form, he mentioned that Dr. Dean Richardson
at New Bolton had examined the injury and could not ensure if more harm was done than the original injury.
He quoted that: "But under the circumstances, obviously we cannot think about shipping him to Dubai now. Naturally this is a major disappointment."
He immediately scratched Animal Kingdom from the race, which caused a bit of a disappointment among the British bookmakers who deemed him the third favourite for this race.
He sustained an injury in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on 11th June 2011. Despite being race favourite, he finished in sixth place. He started the race in an impressive manner but weakened along the way as he struggled.
He rested for eight months and made a comeback in the Allowance Optional Claiming Race at Gulfstream Park on 18th February, 2012. He was the race favourite and succeeded over Monument Hill by 2 lengths.
This news has caused a certain degree of disconcertion among the punters as Animal Kingdom was expected to excel. He was one of best American runners to compete in the Dubai World Cup.
Team Valor International, owners of the colt, described this injury as a “crushing blow” as one of their best will not be able to compete.
He has many impressive victories in his record, including finishing first in the Grade 1 137th Kentucky Derby Presented By Yum! Brands, at Churchill Downs on 7th May, 2011, where he defeated Nehro by 2 ¾ lengths.
Unfortunately, he does not have an opportunity to have a go at this prestigious event.
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