Logo Hunter out of action until next year Logo Hunter's rise through the sprinting ranks was one of the features of the first half of the season but trainer Michael Browne's stable star has met with a setback. The Brazen Beau gelding, a bargain buy out of Ger Lyons' yard last autumn, won four of his first six starts this term for the popular Cashel handler including Listed events at Naas and Cork. Sent off 2/1 favourite for the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh on his most recent outing in July, the 3-year-old could manage only a well-held fifth place behind Mooneista but a reason for that disappointing display immediately became apparent. Browne explained: “He hurt himself coming out of the stalls at the Curragh the last day and was distressed for about an hour after the race. He’s injured muscles on both sides of his tail, particularly the near side which was very sensitive. “He’s out for three months and I’d say he won’t be back in exercise until Christmas. “It’s nothing that can’t be fixed but it will just take time. He’s out in the field now. “We’ve had a good bit of fun with him and hopefully he’ll be back again. A bit of a break probably won’t do him any harm. “There is a five furlongs race in Dundalk around the end of January that I’m hoping to have him back for and if he’s good enough he’ll go to Dubai.” Additional reporting by Alan Magee
