Cups Raider No More
- Tuesday, 23 August 2011 12:18
The career of dual Derby winner Rebel Raider hangs in the balance after suffering yet another significant injury.
The six-year-old son of Reset was scratched a day before last Saturday's $80,000 Listed Penny Edition Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville Parks won by Alcopop after co-trainer Andrew Glyvas realised there was heat in his near front leg during a light trackwork hitout.
Scans were immediately taken on the galloper with the sombre results coming through on Monday evening that Rebel Raider had sustained "ligament damage".
"I'm disappointed, but I'm not as devastated I was last year," the other half of the training duo Leon Macdonald told The Advertiser.
"We knew there was a chance this could happen again."
It is now the fourth time Rebel Raider's preparation has been curtailed due to injury.
Rebel Raider enjoyed an injury free three-year-old season, claiming the VRC Derby in November and then the South Australian Derby in May.
However its been a tale of woe since with Rebel Raider unable to string more than two starts together in four subsequent preparations.
Rebel Raider was then retired with the intention of standing at stud. But when no studs showed interest, connections opted to put Rebel Raider back in work for another tilt at the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup.
Rebel Raider finished fourth when resuming from a 48 week spell in the Group 3 Spring Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on August 6.
Picture: Jenny Barnes
