Travel plans for Sir Alex Ferguson’s millionaire racehorse have had to be changed after a health scare.
Spirit Dancer, a horse both bred and owned by the legendary former Manchester United manager, took his earnings past £2million when he captured the £1m Bahrain International Trophy.
He was due to return to trainer Richard Fahey’s Yorkshire yard this week but he was taken off the plane and will stay in Bahrain to get ready for his next international assignment.
The seven-year-old has gained his last three victories overseas and, as well as two wins in Bahrain, also landed the £1.5m Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia in February.
His victory at Sakhir last Friday, attended by Ferguson and co-owner Ged Mason, has encouraged connections to take a tilt at a Group 1 prize, the £4.4million Longines Hong Kong Cup, the feature event of the Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin on December 8.
Fahey told Mirror Racing: “Spirit Dancer has only had two runs this season. He’s had a soft year and the plan was always to go to Hong Kong.
“Now we’ve had a little bit of a hiccup. He was due to fly back to us last night and he just had shown signs of colic so they took him off the plane, so he’s actually still in Bahrain.
“The vets have had a look at him and he actually had a canter this morning and he seemed fine. He was just colicking a little bit but he’s fine now. So it was a good decision to take him off the plane.
“But the beauty is the horse that finished third, Calif, is due to fly out from Bahrain on November 29 to Hong Kong so we’ve changed plans and if he’s all right we will stick him on that flight.”
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Racingfotos.com)
Spirit Dancer’s triumph was the first of a memorable weekend for Ferguson, who also owns shares in two big winners at Cheltenham, Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Il Ridoto and Potter’s Charm.
Fahey added: “It was fantastic. Sir Alex loves it. He especially loved his time in Bahrain. Have horse, will travel is his attitude.”
The Longines Hong Kong International Races, one of the biggest events in world horse racing, comprises four Group 1 races worth a combined £12.7m and among 56 horses from Hong Kong, Japan, Britain, Australia, France, Ireland, Germany and the US are 26 individual Group 1 winners.
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