Leviathan owner Bob Peters has revealed emerging superstar Western Empire (NZ) (Iffraaj) won’t be seen again this season after injury curtailed any autumn plans.
The four-year-old shot into stardom last year when winning six consecutive races, highlighted by the Gr.1 Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot in November.
The New Zealand bred son of Iffraaj finished runner-up to Grant and Alana Williams-trained stablemate Regal Power in the Gr.1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) after a torrid run, and has subsequently been sidelined with back and joint issues.
“He’s had a small arthroscope in behind the fetlock joint,” Peters said.
“The joint came up a bit after the race (Kingston Town Classic), it could’ve happened in the race – who knows.
“It’s not a problem, it’s been done, and the chip’s been taken out, his back was also damaged in the race, and he’s had some treatment for that which he seems to be responding to, I think he’s over that.
“We’ll give him a good spell and see him next season sometime. He’s pretty good.”
A Victorian spring campaign now seems the obvious next stop for Western Empire.
“There’s not much here for him (here in Western Australia) once they get up to the rating he is now, there’s only probably two races a year,” Peters said.
