Kris Lees’ Mugatoo has finished his spring campaign and will head to the paddock to rest up before an autumn assault that will be targeting the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.
Mugatoo ran a gallant fourth in the Cox Plate and was set to run in the Mackinnon Stakes, but was a late scratching following an incident on the way to the track, where he suffered a laceration to his offside hind leg.
Jamie Lovett, Australian Bloodstock co-director, confirmed that the wounds did not require any stitches and that Mugatoo was fine.
“He’ll freshen up at the farm now and we’ll just keep him ticking over with a view to getting him ready for the autumn carnival in Sydney where the Queen Elizabeth Stakes will be his main target,” Lovett said.
Mugatoo won the Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m), before finishing runner-up in the Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap (2400m), and fourth in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m).
Consecutive Gr3 Cup wins for Henrythenavigator 6yo MUGATOO in the Newcastle Cup. @Leesracing @KPMcEvoy @ausbloodstock2 @Goffs1866 @NewtownStud @newcastleraces_ pic.twitter.com/wr9fsuu86l
— Pedigree Update (@pedigreeupdate) September 18, 2020
