Horse Racing
Raaheeb finished for the season following setback
Raaheeb will miss the rest of the season after being found to be lame following his disappointing run at Windsor on Monday.
The highly-regarded full-brother to both the imperious Baaeed and trainer Owen Burrows’ former Group One star Hukum was seen as a Classic contender when creating a serious buzz with a winning return at Sandown back in April.
A patient approach had seen the son of Sea The Stars limited to just an appearance in the Irish Derby prior to being sent off the even-money favourite for the Group Three Winter Hill Stakes, a race in which the colt finished a well-held fifth.
Further ambitions will now be on hold once again after suffering a setback that will curtail any further progress this term.
Burrows said: “Unfortunately Raaheeb is lame and you won’t see him again this season. It was obviously disappointing at Windsor, but he has a problem so he’s got a valid excuse.
“I was left scratching my head afterwards as he didn’t travel into the bridle, but we’ve found an excuse.
“It was always going to be about next year with him as such and even the year after. It’s nowhere near career ending, but it just means his season is done for now.
“Fingers crossed the break won’t do him any harm and we can look forward to him next year.”
Meanwhile, Burrows is eager to find some soft ground for stablemate and September Stakes runner-up Gethin after being somewhat frustrated the four-year-old was unable to leave Kempton with victory in a race many eyes were on a certain Constitution Hill.
Gethin had headed to the Group Three event with a ticket to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe ready to be stamped and although Parisian dreams may have been dashed, Burrows could still pitch the son of Ghaiyyath into Group One company either home or abroad before the end of the current campaign.
Burrows said: “It was a funny run really from Gethin and to be honest I think he threw it away a bit.
“He obviously settled great in front and relaxed lovely, but Callum (Rodriguez, jockey) felt his brain didn’t engage so it was a bit of a head-scratcher.
“I respect the winner (Pride Of Arras) and he’s a decent horse, but it was a touch disappointing as I felt if he had run straight he would have won.”
He went on: “I think that will mean the Arc is ruled out, but we’ll still have a look at Ascot (Champion Stakes) maybe and if it does turn up really soft a mile and a quarter on soft ground could suit.
“I’ve also put him in the German Group One over a mile and a half at the beginning of November (Grosser Preis von Bayern) and we’ll have a look at either one of those.
“I still want to try to get him on some turf at a nice galloping track with a bit of cut in the ground, as that is when I think we will see him to his true potential.”
