South Australia’s superstar sprinter Gytrash will miss racing in the Autumn and solely focus on a preparation for next year’s TAB Everest in Sydney.
After winning the Yes Yes Yes Stakes at Rosehill in late October, the five-year-old pulled up sore which prompted trainer Gordon Richards to send him for x-rays on his knees.
The x-rays had revealed that a minor chip had broken off from his knee and was causing discomfort.
Richards confirmed that he has since had successful surgery to remove the chip but will see him forced to bypass racing in the Autumn and instead prepare for next year's Everest.
“It’s only a very simple operation, until you have to pay for it,” Richards jokingly said on SEN SA Breakfast.
“We decided to take it out (the chip) and he’ll have six months to recuperate and be back probably about June next year, I think.
“We had such a great time up in Sydney, he’ll be heading back up there and go through the whole process again.
“Try to run in The Everest and actually win it this time instead of running third.”
Gytrash was set to contest the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes in February before the reveal of the chip in his knee, the race where he emerged as a top sprinter earlier this year when beating Redzel and Loving Gaby.
While it is an unfortunate blow to see him miss the Autumn, he will go into next year’s TAB Everest as one of the strongest chances and is currently a third favourite at $11 in the early markets.