New setback for Plymouth Chubb

Star harness racing trotter Plymouth Chubb (Majestic Son) is facing another major setback with surgery required on an old injury.

Trainer Peter Manning noticed the gelding wasn’t quite himself after his return from the Inter Dominion series in Queensland and further tests have discovered some underlying issues.

“In himself he’s good, you wouldn’t know there’s anything amiss,” the Great Western-based trainer said. “He’s not lame or limping or anything like that… I know him pretty well now and I noticed just little things.

“He works on the lead, and he started cantering on the side instead of trotting. That’s just one thing I noticed. He just didn’t feel comfortable, so I looked into it more.”

After his incredible two-year-old season where he won 14 races in-a-row, Plymouth Chubb split a pastern and required surgery to place screws in his leg.

Manning said the current issue is in relation to this injury he sustained as a youngster.

“They did the scan, and they think they found the trouble. It’s on his joint that he had the screws put in and he requires another minor surgery to put another screw in,” Manning said.

“I have all this information second-hand from the owner as the vet has not rung me yet. He is getting in touch with some surgeons in America to discuss what should be done.

“After that happens, he will get in touch with me and let me know when he needs to go for surgery.”

The legendary trainer is remaining positive that the upcoming procedure will go well.

“The vet seems to think it’s quite possible he shouldn’t have any troubles after he gets an extra screw or two… he said it won’t be as much time off as before, which was four months then.”

Plymouth Chubb is a winner of 19 of his 36 races for prizemoney earnings of $374,070.

by Bronte Nieuwenburg, for Harness Racing Victoria