Rite Of Passage in pursuit of the Gold Cup forgoes the World Hurdle
The World Hurdle this time has seen changes which have not been on the horizon for the last few years. The champion, Big Buck’s, who could have defended the title a fifth time easily, has incurred an injury. The nature of the injury was such that the trainer, Paul Nicholls, decided that it was time for the winner of eighteen consecutive races to say good bye to the season. He will continue his winning feat in next season.
Accompanying the star out of the season was the stable mate, Al Ferof, who had sustained a rather serious tendon injury.
Another entry who is highly likely to miss the racing spectacle is the eight-year-old chestnut gelding, Rite Of Passage, who is trained by, Derek Weld.
The trainer wants to drill the under charge for the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and thus wants the gelding to forgo the World Hurdle trip.
One of the most significant successes of Giant’s Causeway’s chestnut gelding was the 2010 Gold Cup at Ascot race course over two miles and four furlongs.
Rite Of Passage kept the runner-up, Age Of Aquarius, adrift by a neck’s mark while riding with jockey, Pat Smullen.
Racing almost after a year after recovering from an injury, the eight-year-old chestnut gelding out of, Dahlia’s Krissy, won the Group 3 Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup on 20th October, 2012 at Ascot race course over two miles.
The Derek Weld trained defeated Aiken by a neck’s mark.
Winning by the closest of the margin has been a trend with the Dr. R. Lambe owned.
"He's back, he's sound, he's very well and in exercise daily. I spoke with Dr Lambe (owner) and we decided we'd have one more crack at the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot with him in 2013. That remains his target," Weld told At The Races.
"I will speak with Dr Lambe over Christmas about the possibility of rethinking about the long-distance hurdle (World Hurdle), but I think it's more likely we'll stick to our plan.”
"He's a very talented horse. The only risk for the Gold Cup is the ground, that it could get too firm at Ascot in the summer time.”
In the absence of the race’s champion, Big Buck’s, there have been some serious bets placed for Rite Of Passage, who for sure will not be the part of the line-up anymore.
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