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Desert Crown is “doing as well as can be expected” as he recovers from an operation on the fractured front fetlock that prematurely curtailed his season just days before his intended outing in the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) at York last month.
Last year’s Derby (G1) hero suffered the injury in his final prep for the Knavesmire engagement on the Al Bahathri Polytrack in Newmarket on Aug. 20.
A flag bearer for the Sir Michael Stoute stable, Desert Crown was taken by the Jockey Club Estates own horse ambulance across town to the Newmarket Equine Hospital shortly after his injury and he has remained there since.
Bruce Raymond, racing manager to Saeed Suhail, owner of Desert Crown, has been calling into the NEH on a regular basis over the past two weeks. He said: “The surgeon Matt Smith is extremely happy with the progress Desert Crown is making.
“He’s still being box rested at the hospital and will be for a few more weeks at least. He certainly won’t be running again this year, but beyond that we’ll have to see. He’s a lot brighter now than he was when the injury first happened and he’s doing as well as can be expected.”
At the time of his latest setback, the son of Nathaniel was on the way back from a minor injury that kept him out of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) at Ascot in July.
On his sole outing this year, the 4-year-old showed he retained all of his ability when an excellent second to Hukum in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes (G3) at Sandown in May.
A decision over whether Desert Crown races on in 2024 or retires to take up stallion duties has yet to be made.
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