Alpha found to have injured fetlock after shock defeat Alpha Centauri has been taken to the Fethard Equine Hospital having sustained an injury to her fetlock in yesterday's shock defeat at Leopardstown. The superstar filly was turned over by Laurens in the Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes at the Dublin venue to end a run of four Group 1 victories. Connections reported after the race that she had lost her action in the closing stages while she was also found to be clinically abnormal by the racecourse vet after the performance. Alan Cooper, racing manager to owners the Niarchos family tweeted late last night:- “Unfortunately Alpha Centauri sustained an injury to her right front fetlock and has been sent to the Fethard Equine Clinic for further evaluation.” Cooper added on Sunday morning: “The vets are having a good look at her this morning, so as of yet there’s no real further news. “She was fine when she got to the vets last night, but they were going to give her a good examination this morning. “She appeared to take a false step and was sore afterwards. It was unfortunate, but she was very brave — she was still trying to win.” Colm O'Donoghue had reported straight after the race:- “She did everything right. She quickened up and went half a length up but then she lost her action and half knuckled over for a stride or two. "When she recovered she did it a second time. Fair dues to the winner though as she's a top class filly in her own right as well.” Jessica Harrington had said post race:- “She got to the lead and she took a bad step. Whatever happened she took a bad step and then she took another one towards the end. “She went there and whatever happened she did something, I saw it when I was watching it. She actually got to the front and I don't quite know what happened then. “It'd hard to know (if she's sound) as the adrenaline is pumping now. Unfortunately that's racing and we'll live to fight another day.”
