Protectionist on the mend Protectionist will continue to race on this year as connections plot a route back towards the Melbourne Cup at Flemington. Currently in training with Kris Lees, his racing career had been in jeopardy after he finished distressed in the Sydney Cup last weekend. Protectionist had spent time at the Randwick Equine Centre, but he has since been diagnosed with a badly bruised knee rather than anything more damaging. "We've been holding our breath for the last few days, it's a bit of a relief more than anything," Jamie Lovett, representing owners Australian Bloodstock, told www.racing.com. "I've watched the vision of it 100 times and it looks like he's put his foot in a hole and hyper-extended that knee. "I've never seen a horse go down on all four bumpers, so he's been lucky. "He's got severe bruising around the knee, which is why he's so sore. "The prognosis is for a bit of rest and we're back on track." Protectionist and Ryan Moore won the Melbourne Cup by four lengths last November, when he was trained by Andreas Wohler.
