A tendon injury has ended the Caulfield Cup dreams for the connections of Berisha.
The first horse guaranteed a start in the Cup courtesy of his Mornington Cup win earlier this year, the Robert Smerdon-trained Berisha showed he was on target when third to Jameka in the Naturalism Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
But when was trotted up on Sunday morning, Smerdon wasn’t happy and his worst fears were confirmed on Monday.
“We were on a high on Saturday and a low on Monday,” Smerdon said.
“He didn’t trot up 100 per cent and when we started checking there was a bit of heat and a bit of pain low down,” Smerdon said.
“We had to wait until today to get a scan done and there’s a tear there, about 30 per cent in the lower part of the tendon.”
Smerdon said Berisha would need 12 months on the sidelines but he expected him to make a return to racing.
“Prognosis with those things they get back to the races, but it’s a 12 month project,” he said.
“It will be six months out and then a six month build-up, so it’s the end of the spring for him.”
Under The Louvre will represent the Smerdon stable in the Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
Smerdon said Under The Louvre’s win in the Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm in June had restricted options for the six-year-old.
“His biggest issue is dealing with having the legacy of having won the Stradbroke,” Smerdon said.
“He’s weighted out of handicaps and weight-for-age races are a bridge too far at the moment.
“He needs a set-weights and penalties race so perhaps The Goodwood next year might be for him, but we’ll roll the dice.”
Under The Louvre will be racing second-up in the Saturday’s race after finishing fourth behind Faatinah in the Bobbie Lewis Stakes at Flemington on September 10.
