STAR Tasmanian stayer Norsqui’s Melbourne Cup campaign ended tragically today when the gelding pulled up lame after a track gallop.
Trainer Walter McShane said Norsqui has damaged a tendon in his nearside front leg but the full extent of the damage will not be known until the leg has been scanned.
“The injury is not life threatening but it is definitely bad enough to prevent him from racing for some time,” McShane said.
“We will have it scanned and depending on the outcome of that procedure we will either retire him or send him to Melbourne for stem cell treatment,” he said
Norsqui was being aimed at the Emirates Melbourne Cup and while he probably had to win a race like the Bart Cummings over 2500m at Flemington next month to gain a start McShane was confident of achieving the goal.
“We had a plan but it’s all hypothetical now,” he said.
Last Friday night Norsqui was honored for his achievements last season by being crowned Tasmanian Horse of the Year for season 2012-13 at the thoroughbred industry’s awards dinner in Launceston.
His victory in the $400,000 Group 2 Adelaide Cup and second in the $500, 000 Group 1 Sydney Cup was enough to get him over the line from a star-studded cast of candidates including BancaMo, Geegees Blackflash and Rebel Bride.
“I couldn’t be happier with Norsqui being named Horse of the Year,” McShane said.
“I know he didn’t win anything in Tasmania but this is where he lives and races prior to heading interstate to find races over suitable distances (3200m),” he said.
Norsqui was placed fourth to Geegees Blackflash in the Launceston Cup and he was only just getting warmed up at the end of that 2400-metre race.
Norsqui’s success last season paved the way for McShane to have a new stable block built on the Broadmarsh training property.
The new row of stables was dubbed ‘The Block”. They are built on the latest design and of course Norsqui occupies stable one in the new complex.
The results of the scan on Norsqui’s leg will be known tomorrow (Friday).