Hong Kong champion out for three months with injury

Hong Kong champion Werther has been sidelined for three months with a suspensory injury suffered in a track incident.

The former New Zealander, runner-up in two Derbys in Australia, has shone in Hong Kong, winning the Derby and QE II Cup last season.

Trainer John Moore told the South China Morning Post he expected Werther to be out until the second half of the Hong Kong season which begins next week.

“He was coming off the track after working and tried to kick another horse, a horse from another stable, and he missed and slipped over,” Moore said.

“In doing that, he has injured a suspensory behind.

“He will be out for three months and that means the Internationals (in December) are scratched, but Werther should be right for the big spring races.”

In better news for the stable, Able Friend was due back in Hong Kong on Sunday night after being treated in Australia for a foot injury suffered in the Hong Kong Mile in December.