Aetos Kronos doing better, says Jerry Riordan

It has been reported by top harness racing trainer Jerry Riordan that his star trotter, Aetos Kronos, is finally showing progress after complications from a routine operation.

He emerged as one of the top trotters in Sweden at age 3 and has defeated European greats including Ecurie D, Hail Mary, Don Fanucci Zet and Green Manalishi.

Last autumn Aetos Kronos got paralysis in a nostril after a routine operation at the vet. Now Riordan finally sees a little progress, to the great joy of the trainer.

“I actually have some good news,” says Jerry Riordan when he is asked how his Bold Eagle son is doing.

The situation has been frustrating for Riordan and the circle around the horse that includes part owners Jeff Snyder and his son Michael.  After a good while without changes, they now see small steps in the right direction.

“We have noticed it lately,” Riordan added. “He plays and is active in his paddock, as he always is. Before, we could really hear him breathing and panting through one nostril. Then it became a little quieter, and we could observe that some air passes through the other nostril as well.

“We could see and hear that there was some activity there,” Riordan said. “Not much, but it’s a start,” he continued. “Undoubtedly good news. There is still a long way to go before he can start, but for the sake of the horse, this is important. If he is to race again, everything must be 100 percent – and maybe we will never get there. However, he clearly shows a greater quality of life, regardless of whether there are any more race starts in life or not. Therefore, it is important to have a sensible perspective on this. There was none before, but now there is little, activity in that nostril. This is what we call progress.

“Just imagine if you were a pilot and became totally blind in one eye. If you then get back 90 percent of the sight, you will probably not get to fly again, but the quality of life is much better anyway. That is why I am very happy on behalf of the horse for all steps moving forward,” Riordan emphasizes.

However, Riordan is far from sure that there will be any more races for the star trotter.

“It is a small glimmer of hope, but we must be patient and just wait for this further. There is nothing else we can do,” Riordan concluded.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink