Eldar Eldarov, the illustrious champion of St Leger, a horse who has left an indelible mark on the racecourse, may have graced it for the final time as he recuperates from a regrettable neck injury suffered at the starting gates of the prestigious Dubai World Cup.
The five-year-old, trained by Roger Varian, was set to compete in the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan on Saturday, marking the start of his 2024 campaign following his victory in the Irish St Leger in his previous season.
He was placed in the stalls, but unfortunately, another horse delivered a powerful kick, which greatly disturbed him. As a result, he reared up and accidentally struck his head, leading to his withdrawal from the competition.
Dubawi's offspring were transported to the nearby equine hospital and subsequently cared for by two expert veterinarians who were flown in from America at the behest of owner Shaikh Khalid.
Eldar Eldarov recently underwent a surgical procedure to address a neck fracture. While his condition is still uncertain, there are promising indications of his recovery following the operation.
While there is still a considerable distance to cover, progress will be made gradually. However, the outlook for the future is now more promising than it was just two days ago, instilling hope in Eldar Eldarov's recovery.