The racing future of dual hemisphere Group One winner Reliable Man is still uncertain with his owners fielding offers to stand him at stud in the spring.
If the right deal is not struck this year, Reliable Man will return to be prepared by Chris Waller for a 2014 autumn campaign after his recovery from a bruised tendon is complete.
Reliable Man - Photo by Steve Hart
Fears he had done career-ending damage to his tendon when he pulled up lame from his Queen Elizabeth Stakes triumph over It’s A Dundeel have since been allayed.
Whatever happens, the horse needs a three-month spell and has been ruled out of spring racing.
“There is nothing concrete yet and the prognosis is good for a return to racing,” Waller said.
“The owners have had talks with some studs to determine what his value is.
“If a deal doesn’t come through then he will come back into work and be prepared for the Canterbury Stakes and George Ryder Stakes.
“He has bruising to the lower part of his tendon which will take three months to heal so he can’t race in the spring.”
That news was disappointing for Waller who believed Reliable Man would have been a serious Cox Plate contender based on what he had seen since the five-year-old entered the stable early this year.
Under 2010 Melbourne Cup winning trainer Alain De Royer-Dupre, Reliable Man won four races in France including the French Derby.
He has also raced in England and Canada and had his last northern hemisphere start when unplaced in the Woodbine International in Toronto in October.
He has had just two starts for Waller, the first when he closed late to finish within 1-1/2 lengths of Pierro when sixth in the George Ryder Stakes.
