Trainer Jim Daly envisages a life of the sofa for his top class stayer Blue Tick George who broke a hock at Yarmouth on Monday.
He said: “Stefano operated on a fractured central tarsal and put a couple of pins in. He came out of the operation well and should make a successful recovery. But we have to be realistic, he will be four years old by the time he would be able to race again and the (Blue Tick) syndicate seem to appreciate that. I gather that Mitch (David Mitchell) has always promised the dog a home and he should make a great pet.”
Lacking a yard to the bend in the ‘top top’ middle distance company, the blue son of Laughil Duke and Jaytee China found it easier to dominate over six bends. He holds the six bend track record at Sunderland and landed the George Ings St.Leger at Yarmouth.
Jim added: “The Yarmouth run was the highlight for me, particularly given the connection my family and I have with the stadium. The lowpoint was the defeat (to Coolavanny Bani in the Grand Prix) at Sunderland.
“I don’t think George was ever the best at passing other dogs. Life most of us, he got a few decisions wrong. But what I really loved about him was his determination to win. He gave everything in every race and never dropped his head. Even going into the pick-up, he was fearless.”
