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Last year’s Durban July winner Pomodoro will not return to racing until at least next autumn due to a series of unfortunate events.
The Sean Tarry-trained star ran with a tongue tie on in this year’s July after he was heard to be making breathing noises. The measure was expected to have the desired effect and the stable fancied him strongly for a repeat win.
However after he disappointed a closer inspection revealed him to have an intermittent entrapment of the epiglottis.
The condition is not considered a serious breathing issue and only requires a minor procedure to correct.
However while being transported to the Baker and McVeigh clinic at Summerveld for the procedure he kicked out in the float, suffering a deep gash from his coronet down to the hoof.
He had to be sedated before being taken straight to the equine hospital where he was operated on,
He was healing nicely before a serious infection set in, requiring a very sick horse to be placed on a long course of strong anti-biotics.
Pomodoro, who is now a five-year-old entire, has made pleasing progress on a daily basis since then and a physiotherapist will start working on him this week with Tarry hoping he will be released back to his yard by the end of the month.
“We wouldn’t be thinking about Cape Town or the Met, but given enough time to recuperate and get fit he could be back for the autumn season in Johannesburg.
“We will then have another big crack at the Durban season and he will retire to stud at the end of the season.”
A procedure to sort out the intermittent entrapment of the epiglottis was also performed during Pomodoro’s time at the Baker and McVeigh clinic and this should have a positive effect on his future racing career.
Meanwhile trainer Gavin van Zyl is going to wheel out the big guns when Cape Town racing returns to Kenilworth on Saturday week.
No Worries, fourth in the Vodacom Durban July and second in the Daily News, runs in the Pinnacle Stakes over 1400m together with Bulsara, Big City Angel and 2011 SA Derby winner Seal.
His Thekwini heroine Along Came Polly and Mohave Princess both run in the Progress Plate over the same trip while recent Durbanville scorer Sagetator will take his chance in the Elusive Fort Cape Classic.
The well bred and much vaunted Var filly Vanity Affair will make her debut in a 1000m fillies maiden.
