Injury rules Morshdi out of the Arc

Trainer Michael Jarvis today spoke of his disappointment at the career-threatening injury to stable star Morshdi.

The Derby Italiano winner has been laid off for the remainder of the season, thereby missing next week`s Prix de l`Arc de Triomphe-Lucien Barriere, after suffering a leg injury at Jarvis`s Newmarket yard.

'When your best horse is injured it is naturally disappointing,' admitted Jarvis.

Morshdi has injured a near-fore tendon but the extent of the damage is yet to be established although the winner of the UAE Grosser Preis von Baden in Germany earlier this month will not race again this season.

'We won`t know just how bad it is for a couple of weeks or so yet,' said the trainer.

'It`s fingers crossed time but I won`t be speculating and we`ll just have to wait and see what happens.'

Tests are being carried out at the Reynolds House headquarters of Newmarket vets Greenwood Ellis & Partners but according to Aziz Merza, racing manager to Morshdi`s owner Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum:

'We`re hopeful about next season but it`s quite serious and the chances of a return to training and racing are about 50-50,' said Merza when speaking to the Racing Post.

As well as his victories in Italy and Germany, the latter race being part of the Emirates World Series, Morshdi also performed with credit when finishing a four lengths runner-up to Galileo in the Budweiser Irish Derby at the Curragh in July.