Leg injury ends promising career

Well-performed harness racing filly Viva Safari may have run her last race.

Concerned with the three-year-old’s hoof, trainer Michael Azzopardi was shocked when x-rays revealed Viva Safari had broken her leg.

As such, vets inserted three screws into the bone, with the injury likely to end Viva Safari’s promising career.

By former tough campaigner Safari, Viva Safari had won three of her last five starts, while finishing second in the other two.

“At this stage it likes her career is over,” Azzopardi declared. “She had what appeared to be an abscess in her hoof, which is what the vet originally thought it was, so we treated her for that.

“Normally it would start to come good after a few days, but this didn’t, so we took her to the vet hospital and they thought the same thing.

“We got her x-rayed just looking for more answers and couldn’t believe she had a break.

“It looks like she may have had a hairline fracture for some time…it just wasn’t enough to really cause her pain.

“But with a bit of racing, it’s gotten worse and this is the end result.”

To be confined to her box for the next three months, Viva Safari will be sent to the breeding barn next season.

With the likelihood of being sidelined for a minimum 18 months, there is an outside chance Azzopardi will attempt a comeback with Viva Safari as a five-year-old.

“On a possible bright side she is only three, so there is plenty of time if we were to consider trying her again one day,” Azzopardi said.

“For now she will spend three months in a box, then enjoy a spell before we decide on which stallion to send her to.

“If after she foals and her leg is given the all clear to at least try we may attempt a comeback with her, but that is a long way off.

“For now, I’m more concerned about keeping her comfortable and happy.”

• PAUL COURTS