Master Minded future in limbo

Owner Clive Smith believes a decision on whether Master Minded will race again may not be made for another year.

The dual Champion Chase winner severed a tendon when stepping up to three miles for the first time in the King George at Kempton on St Stephen's Day.

He has undergone successful surgery, and remains in Newmarket convalescing, but Smith warns the chance of infection is now the main danger.

“I was down at the yard on Monday and Dan Skelton gave me a good summary of the injury in detail, to which Paul Nicholls added some points,” said Smith.

“Basically, he has had his open tendon sewn back together. It was not ruptured, just severely damaged.

“The big problem with injuries like this is if they get any muck in them but Master Minded’s is clean at the moment.

“He remains in Newmarket and as much as possible is being done for him. He’s in plaster and I think he will be for about a month.

“He will obviously have a very long rest but hopefully he will be walking on the roads by the end of the year with a possible return to training about 12 months away.

“The main thing is infection, although there is no sign of that at present.

“A similar case I remember is Azertyuiop, whom Paul trained. He came back in to full training but couldn’t stand it after a year off.

“The answer is we just don’t know if he will race again at this stage.

“But if he doesn’t he’s been a wonderful horse – if it wasn’t for Kauto Star he would have been the horse of a lifetime.”