Bob Baffert (centre) trained Nadal© Photo Healy Racing
Unbeaten American colt Nadal, one of the favourites for the Kentucky Derby, has been retired to stand as a stallion following a front leg fracture.
The colt was impressive on his most recent outing when winning a division of the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby by three lengths at the beginning of May and was considered as a live Triple Crown contender.
The injury was discovered after the horse completed a piece of routine work on Thursday at Santa Anita racetrack in California and will now undergo surgery.
This completes a bad week for trainer Bob Baffert who was riding high earlier this month when saddling the winners of both legs of the Arkansas Derby but Charlatan which won the first division and another horse from the stable that competed at the Oaklawn track have subsequently tested positive for a prohibited substance and may face disqualification.
Here is a video of Nadal returning to his stables after winning the Arkansas Derby:
Nadal, back safely with â¦@BobBaffertâ© @santaanitaparkâ© Not even the weight of an Undefeated record &; a G1 Arkansas Derby trophy í ¼í¿† can keep this horse’s 4 legs on the ground! â¦@WatchXBTVâ© â¦@1ST_Racingâ© â¦@Xpressbetâ© pic.twitter.com/4loVwm9DJ8— camilla yakteen (@camillayakteen) May 6, 2020
Nadal, back safely with â¦@BobBaffertâ© @santaanitaparkâ© Not even the weight of an Undefeated record &; a G1 Arkansas Derby trophy í ¼í¿† can keep this horse’s 4 legs on the ground! â¦@WatchXBTVâ© â¦@1ST_Racingâ© â¦@Xpressbetâ© pic.twitter.com/4loVwm9DJ8
The son of Blame out of Ascending Angel (by Pulpit) won all four racecourse starts.
Co-owner George Bolton told bloodhorse.com: “It requires two screws. He is now going to become a stallion. It’s very sad, obviously. I just got the call this morning. It’s a call you never want to get in horse racing.”
