Owen Burrows has been dealt a merciless blow after Hukum required surgical procedure on an harm picked up throughout his Coronation Cup victory, with the chance his secure star may have run his final race.
Hukum is anticipated to have the ability to return to motion later within the yr, however Burrows believes there’s a likelihood the Shadwell-owned five-year-old will now take up stallion duties.
It represents an enormous swing in fortunes for the Burrows secure, who went from the excessive of celebrating a primary Group 1 success at Epsom to the low of Hukum doubtlessly not racing once more.
The coach stated: “Sadly, he picked up an harm within the race and it wasn’t till we acquired again to the yard that he was lame. He needed to have surgical procedure on Saturday morning and had three screws put in a hind leg.
“It wouldn’t be career-ending, however there may be the prospect of him interesting as a stallion for most likely the jumps.
“It’s too early to say whether or not that will likely be him completed and it’s not as if he couldn’t run once more, it simply relies on his restoration and what kind of curiosity there may be for him.”
Burrows had initially been left to contemplate extra lofty targets for Hukum, together with subsequent month’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, after his dominant victory over final yr’s winner Pyledriver in Friday’s Coronation Cup.
Nevertheless, all plans have been positioned on maintain by Burrows and Shadwell’s racing supervisor Angus Gold till a call is made on Hukum’s future.
“He’s going to should box-rest for just a few weeks and he definitely wouldn’t be again till late autumn on the earliest, however that’s a best-case situation it heals nicely,” stated Burrows.
“It’s not as if it’s him utterly completed, all of it relies upon actually. I used to be talking to Angus yesterday and we will’t make any selections now; we’ll see how he mends and go from there.”
Final yr, Burrows was pressured to relocate to new premises with a considerably lowered staff attributable to Shadwell’s cutbacks after the loss of life of Hamdan Al Maktoum.
Though now not a personal coach for Shadwell, Burrows stored maintain of Hukum and took nice satisfaction within the six-time Group winner making his breakthrough on the highest stage.
“One minute I used to be floating house from Epsom after which bang,” the coach stated. “I used to be 1 / 4 of an hour from getting again to the yard when my assistant rang me and it was a little bit bit bittersweet.
“I’ve skilled lots of feelings on this recreation over time, however that will most likely be up there. It’s gutting from a private and staff viewpoint, however I really feel very privileged to coach such a great horse and am so happy he was in a position to lastly present what we felt he was able to.”
Hukum, a year-older brother of Shadwell celebrity Baaeed, has gained 9 of his 15 begins and earned prize-money of greater than £630,000.