Melbourne Cup casualty Jukebox Jury’s leg injury will be assessed next week by one of Australia’s leading equine vets.
Jukebox Jury, the highest rated stayer among a record number of internationals in this year’s Melbourne Cup, went amiss late in the race with tests revealing he suffered a hairline fracture to his left fore cannon bone.
With his leg heavily bandaged, Jukebox Jury has been confined to a stable at the rural Victorian property of part-owners Colleen and Kevin Bamford.
The Bamfords, who also share ownership of the 2010 Melbourne Cup winner Americain, bought into Jukebox Jury after the six-year-old won the Prix Kergorlay in France in August.
Jukebox Jury has been under the care of prominent vet Dr Alastair MacLean, who recommended time as the most efficient way of dealing with the fracture.
“It was decided to take the conservative approach and not operate,” Mrs Bamford said.
“So it’s been box rest for him for four to six weeks while nature takes its course.
“The horse has such a calm and relaxed attitude for a thoroughbred and I think that will help a lot.”
X-rays next week will reveal how much progress Jukebox Jury, who finished 20th in the 23-horse Melbourne Cup field, has made on the road to recovery.
“He really should make a full recovery but we’ll know more after Monday,” Mrs Bamford said.
Mrs Bamford confirmed Jukebox Jury will return to trainer Mark Johnston’s UK stables in early 2012 once he is fit to travel.
“Our property is approved for pre-export quarantine requirements so hopefully he can do his quarantine here before going back to England,” Mrs Bamford said.
Jukebox Jury, who dead-heated in the Irish St Leger after his Prix Kergorlay win, was one of two runners Johnston saddled up in the Melbourne Cup.
Fox Hunt was the less fancied of the duo but his closing seventh placing – three lengths from the winner Dunaden – was a result Johnston says he has become well accustomed to.
“… a ubiquitous flat spot in the middle of the race meant that he hardly figured until the last furlong,” Johnston wrote on markjohnstonracing.com.
“Again he frustrated us by finishing so fast that it looked as if another hundred yards would have taken him into the reckoning and another stride would certainly have secured fifth (placing).”
Of Jukebox Jury’s future, Johnston wrote: “Plans to race him in Dubai in March, have, of course, been shelved but it is still hoped that he will be fit to race again next season and a tilt at the Ascot Gold Cup (in June) is still on the cards.”
AAP TURF
