Group 1 winner Top Ranked won’t race again this season but trainer Annabel Neasham remains hopeful it isn’t the end of his racing career.
The Australian Bloodstock import suffered a leg injury during a track gallop at Moonee Valley on Tuesday, ruling him out of the 2022 Cox Plate and placing a cloud over his future.
Neasham provided an update on his condition on Wednesday and said that while the seven-year-old faced an extended period on the sidelines, it was possible he would race again.
“Our beautiful Epsom winner Top Ranked is out for the rest of the season,” Neasham said in a tweet.
“Whilst too early to say for certain, there is hope of him returning to the track.
“We’re gutted he won’t be lining up in the 2022 Cox Plate, but his welfare is paramount and he is in safe hands recovering.”
A two-time stakes winner in England, Top Ranked has raced just four times in Australia and was unbeaten in two starts this preparation.
After injury cut short his autumn, he returned to win the Bill Ritchie Handicap in September before dead-heating for first in the Epsom Handicap to earn a Cox Plate tilt.
Neasham will still have two runners in the Cox Plate in Zaaki and Mo’Unga.