Chancellor’s Plans on Hold After Minor Injury During Stalls Test
Exciting Cheveley Park juvenile needed stitches after cutting his leg.
Chancellor, the highly regarded colt owned by Cheveley Park Stud, has once again seen his racing plans disrupted after suffering a minor injury during a routine stalls test. The son of Kingman and Breeders’ Cup heroine Queen's Trust had impressed with two wins from his first three starts at Doncaster but has faced a series of setbacks in recent weeks.
The latest blow came when Chancellor sustained a cut to his leg after kicking out during a stalls test. This follows his unfortunate withdrawal from the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster earlier this month, where he nudged open the gate in the starting stalls and cut his mouth, forcing him out of the race at the last moment.
🚨 Chancellor is withdrawn from the Betfred Champagne Stakes#ITVRacing | @DoncasterRaces pic.twitter.com/qgMAklHSDs
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) September 14, 2024
Cheveley Park’s managing director Chris Richardson explained the situation, saying, "They put him through the stalls prior to the test, and he kicked out and managed to cut his leg. It’s nothing serious, but he had to have some treatment." While the injury is not severe, it required stitches, and Chancellor’s immediate future is uncertain. "We’re just having to regroup. It’s frustrating after everything else, but we’ll give him some time to recover," Richardson added.
Chancellor had been considered for this weekend's Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket as a potential next step following his Champagne Stakes withdrawal. However, he was not confirmed for the Group Two contest, leaving his connections unsure of their next move. The colt holds a Group One entry in the Futurity Trophy back at Doncaster on October 26, but there is a possibility he may be roughed off for the remainder of the season.
"We might just have to leave it for this year," Richardson said, hinting at a possible break for the colt. "I’ll know a little bit more in 10 days or so, but it’s just really frustrating, as it came at a very bad time."
While the injury is not career-threatening, the timing is unfortunate, and the Chancellor's connections will be monitoring his recovery closely before making any further decisions. With his talent already on display, the team at Cheveley Park remains optimistic about his future but is taking a cautious approach to ensure he returns fully fit for the challenges ahead.
