Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior has screw inserted into injured leg
The world's highest-earning racehorse, Romantic Warrior, had a screw inserted into his injured left front leg on Wednesday, with the Jockey Club confirming the surgery was a success.
Found to have a left fore fetlock injury in the lead-up to an intended welcome home ceremony last Sunday, the 10-time Group One winner is now back in his box at trainer Danny Shum Chap-shing's stables.
'Management options were discussed by the club's expert veterinarians and Romantic Warrior's owner [Peter Lau Pak-fai] and trainer, and a decision was made for the horse to undergo a veterinary procedure at the club's equine hospital in which a single screw was inserted under standing sedation and local anaesthesia. The procedure was performed without complication,' the Jockey Club said in a statement.
Officials were forced to cancel last Sunday's ceremony for the globetrotting superstar after a screening found 'a very early detection of some potential changes in one of the horse's joints' following his demanding three-race campaign in the Middle East.
'[Wednesday's] procedure followed a computerised tomography examination and a magnetic resonance imaging examination of his forelimbs performed on May 16 as part of a proactive health-screening process in accordance with the club's systematic procedures for ensuring the welfare of our racehorses. No lameness or other clinical signs were present prior to the screening examinations,' said the club statement.
'Romantic Warrior returned to his stable where he will be closely monitored by club veterinarians and stable personnel, supported by the world-class rehabilitation services that the club has developed.'
No timeline has been provided on Romantic Warrior's return to the racetrack.
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