Patience staves off the need for hefty vet bills, according to trainer Pat Hyland.
Shanghai Warrior bowed a tendon in March last year and the former champion jockey shunned the modern stem cell treatment in favour of traditional methods of treating the horse’s injury.
Hyland gave Shanghai Warrior time in the spelling paddock before gradually introducing an old training regimen to build strength in the sprinter’s legs.
“He had plenty of time and then we exercised him on hard ground, that’s what they all did in the old days,” Hyland said.
“He’s too good a horse to mess around with different treatments but patience and time cures almost any problem.”
Shanghai Warrior gave Hyland reason to be confident in his recovery with his impressive trial win on slow ground at Cranbourne on May 26.
But Hyland knows racing will determine whether Shanghai Warrior can recapture the form that led to him winning the Group Three Aurie’s Star Handicap in 2012.
“He’ll need a couple of runs to get back to full fitness but he’s fit enough to run a good race on Saturday,” Hyland said.
Shanghai Warrior will have the services of top jockey Michael Rodd when he resumes in the sixth heat of the All Victorian Sprint Series for which the gelding is one of 16 nominations.
Group winners General Truce and Broken top the handicapper’s ratings for the race on 102 and 101 respectively while Adelaide sprinter Nearest To Pin is also among the entries for the race.
Saturday’s Flemington card also features the third heat of the VRC-CRV Winter Championship Series, which has attracted 40 entries headed by the Chris Waller-trained Tromso.
Trainers have nominated 23 stayers to compete in the third heat of the Banjo Paterson Series (2500m) with the Waller-trained Permit the top rated nominee on 101.
South Australian Derby winner Zabeelionaire is also among the entries while the Saab Hasan-trained Voila Ici is a chance to back up from his solid second at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
