Star WA pacer Im Victorious fights for life
Star WA pacer Im Victorious was last night fighting for his life after having a foreleg tendon severed in the Sydney Inter Dominion Championship Final (3009m) won by Beautide at Menangle yesterday.
Veterinarians said the five-year-old gelding would never race again, but they hoped to save him for retirement at trainer Michael Brennan's Pinjarra property.
"We're absolutely devastated," said Im Victorious' part-owner, racehorse trainer Simon Miller.
"Our best hope is that an operation can make him paddock-sound.
"If the severed tendon can be repaired enough, he'll be given a VIP retirement by the Brennan family and our group of owners.
"In pacing terms, he's young and lightly raced. We'll never see the best of him."
Brennan said last night it would be more than a week before it was known if Im Victorious could be saved.
"He's come out of anaesthetic and been taken to a recovery section," the trainer said.
"Vets have confirmed he won't race again. They also say the next 10 days will be critical in the battle to save him. All we wish for him is a good retirement."
Matt Young, a friend of Brennan and his wife Lara, was at Menangle yesterday.
"There were highly emotional scenes on the track," Young said.
"Michael and Lara were in tears, and so was (driver) Gary Hall junior.
"A secondary tendon in Im Victorious' injured leg was severed. But the main tendon avoided serious damage, which gives him a hope of being saved."
Im Victorious was finishing powerfully in fourth position at the 100m when badly checked in the $750,000 race.
Sydney reinswoman Lauren Panella, who shifted out with Mach Beauty ($33.90), pleaded guilty to careless driving. She copped an eight-week suspension.
"Mach Beauty appeared set to go for an inside run before he was suddenly taken outwards," chief steward Reid Sanders said.
"In the tightening, Im Victorious struck Mach Beauty's offside sulky wheel.
"A veterinarian rushed to Im Victorious' aid and arranged his swift transport to a Sydney university's vet department."
The bay, who started $5.90 equal-second favourite, was eased after the interference and finished 12th of 14.
WA-owned Seel N Print ($21.20) ran second and For A Reason ($10.30) was third 1m back.
Joint favourite Smolda finished fourth. Restrepo ($11) ran fifth and Mach Beauty sixth.
The other WA-trained runner, Livingontheinterest ($39.20), who was travelling strongly before being checked behind Im Victorious at the 100m, finished 10th.
Former WA pacer Seel N Print, taken over last year by Sydney trainer-reinsman Todd McCarthy, delighted his owners.
"Seel N Print will stay with Todd," the gelding's managing owner and former trainer Greg Bond said.
"He'll be set for Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane events."
Livingontheinterest's trainer Gary Hall said the gelding would return to Perth and be spelled.
"He was going well in sixth position and looked a place hope," Hall said.
"But he then had difficulty getting clear and was stopped to a walk in the interference."
Former Tasmanian pacer Beautide, trained and driven by 28-year-old James Rattray, completed a rich double. He won the $750,000 Miracle Mile (1609m) at Menangle in November.
"He was always travelling like a winner," Rattray said.
"We're absolutely devastated. Our best hope is that an operation can make him paddock-sound.""Im Victorious' part-owner *Simon Miller *
