Last season's G2 Gimcrack S. winner and G1 Middle Park S. third Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) will make a belated start to his 3-year-old campaign after suffering a leg injury in his box at trainer Owen Burrows's stable.
“Unfortunately Minzaal injured himself in his box before Christmas,” said Burrows. “He's had to have surgery and he's back at [owner] Shadwell at the moment recuperating.”
The first key target for Minzaal's 3-year-old campaign had been the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, but Burrows admitted it will be a race against time now.
“Whether or not he'll make Ascot will be just determined on how he progresses now. It's a shame,” the trainer said. “He must have banged a hind leg and has had a couple of chips removed off his hocks. Obviously the Commonwealth Cup was the plan. There's still a small chance. God willing, we'll have him back at some stage this year.”
Burrows is looking forward to another Shadwell colourbearer, last year's King George V S. and G3 Geoffrey Freer S. scorer Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), in 2021. He said of the 4-year-old, “He's back with me and looks to have done well over the winter. He's an exciting horse for us all. I have plans in my head, but nothing concrete as such yet.”
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