Injury claims VRC St Leger runner-up

A tendon injury has put the career of the Australian stakes performer Gifted Lad on indefinite hold.

The Cambridge-trained son of Zabeel won twice over ground last season for Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young before a two start autumn campaign in Melbourne.

Gifted Lad made an immediate impact when runner-up in the Listed VRC St Leger before he was unplaced against older opposition, again at Flemington.

“He had a good break of three months and he had done six weeks of work before his injury,” Busuttin said.

“He’s going to be out for a while and we might not see him as a four-year-old.”

Also temporarily out of commission is Gifted Lad’s promising stablemate Animator after he proved a handful for jockey Leith Innes last time out.

“He raced very awkwardly at Hastings,” Busuttin said. “He hit the front relatively easily and then turned his head sideways and he was a difficult ride. He’s not quite right so he’s gone to the paddock, but he’ll be back.

“It’s nothing major and he’s a December foal so time won’t hurt him – he’s a Group horse.”

Animator had previously run fourth on debut before the Encosta de Lago three-year-old beat the older horses at Ruakaka.

Meanwhile, Mabeel is back in the stable with hopes an improvement in his manners will allow him to realise his full potential.

“He’s looking good and about a month away from trialling,” Busuttin said. “If he can learn to be a racehorse then he will go right through the grades.”

The Savabeel five-year-old has two wins and a placing from his five appearances.