Reference Point lame

Press, 7 October 1987, Page 36

Reference Point lame

NZPA-ReUter London

Reference Point may have cracked a bone above his fore knee during Sunday’s Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe in Paris, his trainer, Henry Cecil, said on Monday. The injury almost certainly occurred at the moment Steve Cauthen asked the colt for an extra effort three furlongs (600 m from the finish. The colt finished eighth of the 11 runners, beaten 20 lengths by Trempolino, the mount of Pat Eddery.

Cecil said: “Our initial thought was that he had gone over the top, but when he got back to the stables he seemed to be lamer and. lamer and very sore above his near fore knee.

“The Aga Khan’s vet was called into carry out X-rays and although a hairline fracture of the radius is suspected we will have to have more Xrays carried out” Cecil explained: “He is very, very lame this

morning and had an uncomfortable night. "Die vets at Longchamp are not happy with the initial X-rays and further investigations are needed. “I will be sending one of our own vets to have a look at him. “If the fracture is confirmed, Reference Point will have to stay in France for about six weeks.

“I will arrange for him to stay at a French stable.”

Commenting on the injury, Cecil said: “This game is like that. All I hope is that he will come back safe and sound.” The colt, which started 7-10 favourite, had been bidding to become the first horse to win the St Leger and the Arc in the same year, a feat not even his maternal grandsire, l Nijinsky, could achieve.

His surprise defeat almost overshadowed the briliant ride of Eddery, who won the Arc for the fourth time.