Rudi's Pet, forced to miss the Listed Dubai Golden Shaheen Sprint at Nad Al Sheba on Saturday through injury, is likely to be out of action for three months, it emerged today.
Trainer David Nicholls' wife Alex Greaves said: "It was very disappointing, he damaged a ligament in a sesamoid and the vet said that had he run he would have aggravated the problem and come back lame.
"I have been told the vets in fact were very good and there is damage there, they said it would take two or three months to get over it but that the good tissue will heal."
As a result of his rapid improvement last season, which saw him win the Group Three King George Stakes at Goodwood in July, Rudi's Pet may not be easy to place this term.
Greaves added: "The only good thing about it is that he likes top of the ground so conditions should be right for him when he comes back in mid-summer."
The stables' success story in recent seasons has had owners clamouring to get horses into the Thirsk yard and she went on: "We have 74 horses in this time, quite a few more than last season. They include 16 two-year-olds which is a lot for us and as a result we have had another 15 boxes built _ all we hope now is that they are filled with winners!"
Greaves was at Kempton on Saturday to ride Royal Result and Peartree House and although they were beaten she was pleased with the way they ran.
Of Tayseer, who ran well below par in the Worthington Lincoln, beating only five home she said: "He is alright this morning.
"I only watched the race on television at Kempton, but it looked as if he travelled too well early and ran himself into the ground.
"He will go for all the other good mile handicaps I suppose, but of course it will be up to his owners."
