Descarado has developed a hoof infection
Last year’s Caulfield Cup winner Descarado has suffered an unexpected setback to his upcoming spring carnival campaign after developing an infection in one of his hoofs.
The five-year-old gelding had been on track to resume in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley on September 10 after winning both his recent barrier trials.
Descarado is now due to make his return to racing a week later than originally planned.
“He’s on penicillin for three weeks so he won’t be ready until the 17th,” Co-owner Luke Henderson said.
“He had an infection in one of his hoofs.”
This is the first time Descarado has experienced hoof problems of any kind.
“I think all horses have little niggles but nothing of any note,” Henderson said.
Henderson is now unsure whether or not Descarado will be ready for the $3 million Cox Plate on October 22.
The owners of the High Chaparral gelding had high hopes for the horse in the Cox Plate prior to this setback.
“We were pretty confident on his chances for the Cox Plate,” Henderson said.
Descarado won the Caulfield Cup last year by a length ahead of Harris Tweed before failing to finish in the Melbourne Cup next start due to fatigue.
The Gai Waterhouse-trained horse has won four of his 19 starts and has earned close to $2.3 million in prize money.
