AARON Purcell’s top-class galloper St Jean will miss the feature spring staying races in Melbourne after slightly straining his near-front tendon.
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A devasted Purcell told The Standard the injury was not career threatening but meant the European-bred St Jean’s spring campaign which was focused on the Caulfield and Melbourne cups, was over.
“St Jean galloped at the Port Fairy beach on Saturday morning,”Purcell said. “He worked brilliantly. I got him back to the stables and noticed a bit of heat in his near front tendon.
“I had it checked out on Monday morning and decided to halt his spring preparation. We’ll keep him in the stable and prepare him for the races over the autumn.
“It’s just a slight strain but he’s too valuable of a horse to risk. He’s a lightly-raced five-year-old stallion who has plenty of potential. There were no happy faces among our staff in the stable once we realised his spring was over.”
From his eight Australian starts St Jean has won four races.
His victories were at Warrnambool, Caulfield and Sandown before an impressive win over 1600 metres at Moonee Valley on September 6.