Stud Beckons For Injured Flying Ricciardo

SPRINTING superstar Flying Ricciardo will be sidelined for at least the next few months after sustaining multiple injuries in his shock Golden Easter Egg semi-final defeat on Saturday night.

While an on-course veterinary inspection post race amazingly found no apparent injuries, it was a very different story at Colyton Veterinary Hospital on Sunday under the watchful eye of Dr. Chris Papantonio.

"There's a crack in his offside hock and he's injured his hip support as well," said trainer Kristy Sultana.

"Dad (Sam) went to check him on Sunday morning and he basically fell away on him when he tried so he got him straight up to see Chris.

"It's the same hock he did when we were in Melbourne for the Silver Chief. It was hard to watch on Saturday night because you could tell something wasn't right.

"We'll start treatment straight away but he'll be off now for a good couple of months. The main thing is to get him right."

Sultana will use the injury enforced layoff to launch Flying Ricciardo's much anticipated stud career.

Winner at 22 of his 27 starts, the son of Barcia Bale ran a slashing 29.22 to win his heat of the Golden Easter Egg, the second quickest time ever posted at Wentworth Park.

"And to equal Fernando Bale's second split record was a big thing as well," Sultana said.

"We will use this time to collect from him but when it's time to go back into work for a racing return we'll stop.

"We are just working through prices and things and will have some more information shortly. But at the start we'll just need to manage things pretty closely."

Still just 29 months of age, Flying Ricciardo's career record is one worth salivating over.

In December he of course ran down Simon Told Helen to win the Group 1 Dapto Megastar (520m) in a slashing 29.48.

A few months earlier he annexed the Group 2 Black Top (515m) at Ladbrokes Gardens in a whirlwind 29.28 – doing so at just 21 months of age.

"He's an absolute freak and if anything too quick for his own good," Sultana said.

"He showed on Saturday night that to still run fourth what an amazing dog he is.

"Basically every time he trials he breaks a record and it's going to be a tough few months for him because he just loves to race and is such a competitor.

"But he'll be back and in the meantime we are looking forward to getting his stud career off the ground. We've had a lot of enquiries so it really is exciting."

Flying Ricciardo Track Record:

Bulli: 340m (18.91)

Best Times:

Bathurst: 520m (29.58)  
Bulli: 340m (18.91)   400m (22.12)  
Dapto: 520m (29.48)  
Maitland: 450m (24.63)  
Nowra: 365m (20.41)  
Richmond: 330m (18.63)   400m (22.55)  
The Gardens: 515m (29.17)  
Wentworth Park: 280m (15.92)   520m (29.22)