Milan injured at The Curragh

Aidan O`Brien`s Milan will miss the first half of the season after sustaining a fracture when pulled up as favourite for the Mooresbridge Stakes at The Curragh today.

On a day on which his stable companions won three races at the Kildare track and also saw Diaghilev take a Group Three race in Paris, Milan was pulled up by Michael Kinane approaching the home straight in a race won by Rebelline.

'The horse has a spiral fracture of his off-fore canon bone and has gone to Troytown Veterinary Hospital in Kildare. It`s a time thing - I think he will be fine and it will probably only cost him the first half of the season,' his champion trainer explained.

Asked about rumours circulating at the track that the horse had been a doubtful participant, O`Brien confirmed that last year`s Rothmans Royals St Leger winner had been suffering from a stone bruise on Sunday.

'He came right this morning and we X-rayed him before he left the yard.

'Nothing showed up and he was sound beforehandso we let him take his chance,' O`Brien explained.

The damage occurred to the same leg (off-fore) as he had been suffering the stone bruise to.

Pacemaker Shoal Creek, in the same colours as Milan, almost stole the prize when the favourite dropped out, the 10-1 chance holding a healthy lead until Rebelline gradually overhauled him inside the final furlong to score by less than a length.

This was the second success at her local course in as many outings this season for Rebelline in the hands of regular partner Declan McDonogh and her trainer Kevin Prendergast is planning to bring her to France later this month.

'She is in a Group One at Longchamp on Sunday week over nine furlongs, one less than today, and it`s probably her ideal trip,' he said.

Kinane had better luck elsewhere on the card for the O`Brien stable with Ontario getting the better of the favourite Pakhoes by a head in the opening Mull of Kintyre Maiden.

However, odds-on Century City had to be vigorously driven by Kinane to land the spoils in the Mozart Tetrarch Stakes to book his passage to the Irish 2000 Guineas back at The Curragh later this month.

'Century City is so lazy it is hard to assess him. He is very idle in front and needs more than seven furlongs,' said O`Brien after the favourite had prevailed by a short head as 16-1 stable mate Creekview came with a tremendous late surge.

Louisville, the work companion of Hawk Wing, made a pleasing winning debut to round off the O`Brien-Kinane treble in the finale over a mile despite drifting in the betting.

Kournakova`s attempt to make all the running for O`Brien and Kinane in the Montjeu Athasi Stakes came unstuck when Rum Charger quickened up much the better in the final furlong to book her passage to either the French or Irish 1000 Guineas for local trainer Dermot Weld.