Group 3 Devonport Chase winner Stop Line has been scratched from today’s Devonport program with his future racing career now in the balance.
Co-trainer Richard Stamford rated the son of St. Pierre’s chances of racing again at “50/50” after suffering a back-muscle injury leading into today’s assignment.
“He’s getting on a bit now, he’s almost four and that’s starting to catch up with him I think,” said Stamford on Monday.
“If that is it for him then he’s been a wonderful chaser for us, but we’ll know more in a few months’ time.
“We won’t push him … at the moment I’d say it’s about 50/50 him coming back. As I said he’s not getting any younger.”
Winner at 31 of his 50 career starts, included in that record another 11 placings, Stop Line was last seen when down the track to Hooked On Scotch in the Hobart Thousand, his second appearance in Tassie’s flagship event, having finished fifth to Leeroy Rogue in the 2018 decider.
Just recently, the prolific winning sprinter broke through for a well-deserved group race triumph, defeating kennelmate Leica Prayer in the Group 3 Devonport Chase Final (452m).
“He didn’t start racing until he was well over two and the (back) muscle has always been a little bit suspect,” Stamford added.
“If he does return it will only be if he comes back capable of running up to what we expect of him. We’ll know more in a few months.”
Watch the victory of Stop Line in this year’s Group 3 Ladbrokes Devonport Chase