Happy Sunrise Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 Very disappointing to see this on HRNZ. There is more in the article than the part I have just copied and pasted. The open class ranks needed him around to spice things up a bit. Knee injury claims Alta Maestro 11 September 2019 , News By Jonny Turner One of saddest tales around this year’s New Zealand Cup has played out more than two months before the running of the country’s greatest race. Ashburton owners Stuart and Liz Leadley will not be represented in the event after their top class pacer Alta Maestro had to be euthanised, recently. The Robert Dunn trained 5yr-old was struck down with a crippling knee injury over winter. Vets told his connections their only realistic option was to put Alta Maestro down. “He was diagnosed with real bad arthritis – it was so bad they said you’ve got no option but to put him down,” Stuart Leadley said. “They said he would never make any kind of trekking horse or riding horse.” “There was no option, he was going to be a cripple.” Alta Maestro won nine of his 32 starts and banked over $195,000 in stakes. The Art Major pacer holds the New Zealand 2yr-old male pacers record for 1700m with his 1-59.7 win in March of 2017. Alta Maestro began his career and a head strong and free rolling front runner. Most recently, the Dunn stable transformed the horse in to a relaxed staying type and it was paying dividends. Alta Maestro raced admirably in open class last season and scored his best win in the group 3 Teltrac Communications Ltd Free-For-All at Addington in March. This year’s New Zealand Cup was to be on the horse’s agenda before tragedy struck. “We had some pretty big and realistic plans this year,” Leadley said. “We genuinely thought he was good enough to be doing some pretty good things and it was a dreadful shock.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flagship uberalles Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 What a shame they can't save save him, this sport can have some very cruel twists for horses and owners alike. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunterthepunter Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 feel for the owner of this horse as he has had his own health problems 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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