Racing: Unusual injury hits Soldier

The racing future of Sakhee's Soldier is in the balance following a rare injury suffered in his Australian debut.

The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained group one New Zealand Stakes winner pulled up sore after he had finished out of the money in the group two A.D. Hollindale Stakes on the Gold Coast.

"It looks like he's got a tear in the suspensory ligament of a hind leg, which is very unusual," part-owner Alasdair Chisholm said.

"Murray has been training for 40 years and he said he's never had that happen before. Obviously it's not uncommon in a front leg, but it's quite rare in a back leg.

"The vet who has been seeing him is overseas and he's back this week so we're waiting for him to assess things but whatever happens it will be a long period of rehabilitation, at least nine months.

"It's just a real pity as his run here in the Easter for fourth was huge from the wide draw and we thought he was right back to his best.

"He'll be staying over in Queensland and even if he doesn't race again we have been very lucky to have had a group one winner, he's done us all so proud."

Meanwhile, Turn Me Loose is still enjoying a break before the multiple group one winner returns to build up for a return to Australia.

"He's spelling and we'll have him back up for the Melbourne spring," Forsman said. "He's having a decent break and we haven't set a race programme in place yet."

Group one winner Platinum Witness has been sold as a broodmare prospect.

"She's been bought by Japanese interests and she's gone to Arrowfield Stud in Australia," said Neville McAlister, who raced the daughter of California Dane with Lincoln Farms.

The same combination have also recently sold their group one performer Platinum Balos.

Platinum Witness won five of her 22 starts, including the group one New Zealand 1000 Guineas and she also placed at the elite level in the New Zealand Oaks and in the Windsor Park Plate.

Last season's NZ Bloodstock Filly of the Year was out of the money in both her starts this autumn. "She was disappointing, but she had nothing more to prove and as a young mare she is a top broodmare prospect," trainer Lisa Latta said.

Platinum Witness was also the dual group three winner of the Desert Gold Stakes and the Lowland Stakes, in which she dead-heated with Savaria.

She also won the Listed Armadillo Stakes before running fourth in the group one New Zealand 2000 Guineas.

Meanwhile, her former stablemate Platinum Balos has been sold to Australian interests after injury prevented her from rediscovering her best form.

"She had two knee chips removed after the Sires' Produce and while she came back and won a couple of races she was never the same horse," McAlister said.

"She's gone to Bell View Park in New South Wales."

Platinum Balos ran third in the group one Diamond Stakes, finished runner-up in the group two Wakefield Challenge Stakes and was fourth in the group two Matamata Breeders' Stakes.

- NZ Racing Desk