German import Araldo has been ruled out of racing for up to six months after being diagnosed with a stress-fracture of the vertebrae.
Araldo performed well during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival but his racing future is in the balance after being diagnosed with a stress-fracture of the vertebrae. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Araldo went into the Group 3 Lexus Stakes (2500m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day and the favourite to secure the last position in the 2013 Melbourne Cup but refused to run straight in the final stages of the race and finished third behind Ruscello and Let’s Make A Deal.
Trainer Mike Moroney was disappointed with Araldo’s performance in the Lexus Stakes but his racing manager Anthony Feroce said that the diagnosis explained why the High Chaparral entire failed to straighten in the Group 3 event last weekend.
“At least that explains why he wouldn’t go straight in the Lexus, he was probably hurting,” Feroce told TVN.
“The only treatment is time and after the three months we will have it re-scanned and see how it has healed.”
Although he missed out on making the 2013 Melbourne Cup field both Moroney and Feroce have a high opinion of Araldo’s ability and expect him to battle back from the injury; with the 2014 Melbourne Cup already on the agenda for the German import.
“He’s a very good stayer in the making and we’ll give him every chance to come back,” Feroce said.
Araldo competed at Group 1 level in both Germany and Italy before coming to Australia and made his debut in Melbourne when he beat home just a single runner in the Listed Slickpix Stakes (1700m) at Caulfield on August 31.
The five-year-old produced an improved performance when he finished third behind Star Rolling and Let’s Make Adeal in the Listed Penang Trophy (1800m) in Adelaide before recording his first race win in Australia when he was awarded the Listed The Bart Cummings (2520m) on protest from Lloyd Williams-owned Sea Moon at Flemington on October 5.
Moroney has a number of talented stayers in his stable and is still tossing up whether to send Irish St Leger winner Voleuse De Coeurs to Hong Kong for the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) at Sha Tin on December 8.
