Popular veteran Jungle Edge (Dubawi {Ire}) will be given a long spell after bleeding at Flemington yesterday.
Jungle Edge finished second-last in a seven-horse field in the VRC Member Emma Duffy H. He was found to have bled from both nostrils and now faces a mandatory three-month stand-down period.
The winner of 16 races and more than $1.4 million in prize-money, Jungle Edge had been in strong form leading into Saturday’s race. He had won or placed in all of his last four runs, including the G3 Sir John Monash S. and Bletchingly S.
Jungle Edge has become a fan favourite
But the 9-year-old’s trainer Mick Bell is looking on the bright side.
“It is disappointing considering the good form that he was in, and the fact that it looks like the wet tracks might stick around in Melbourne for a bit longer this spring than in some other seasons,” he said.
“We were quite confident going into yesterday’s race. We’d avoided Flemington up until then, but the track came up a genuine heavy and we thought he’d run well. If he was ever going to win a race at Flemington, we thought that was going to be it.
“It’s not a bad bleed, but it certainly was from both nostrils. The fact that it’s been so cold here in the last few weeks may have been a contributing factor.
“But the main thing is that everything is okay with him. He ate up everything last night and is bright and well.
“The main thing is that everything is okay with him. He ate up everything last night and is bright and well. " - Mick Bell
“You’d never say it’s a good thing that a horse has bled, but it may be that there’s more upside than downside. We can give him a good, long spell now – the first decent spell he’s had for a while.
“He’ll come back into work in about January and we’ll look at getting him back around March, maybe having a go at some races in Sydney in the autumn.”
Mick Bell has been amazed by the response from punters in asking how Jungle Edge is doing
Bell has been amazed by the response from fans and punters around Australia.
“We’ve had lots of interest today in how he’s doing,” he said. “He’s become a bit of a fan favourite and a punter’s favourite, because he’s so consistent. He’s been a great horse and such a tough horse, and he’s got a huge following.
“We appreciate all the interest in him and want everyone to know that he’s okay, we’ll look after him and look forward to bringing him back after his spell.”
Jungle Edge has put together an impressive CV of black-type performance
Jungle Edge has put together an impressive CV of black-type performance. Along with wins in the G3 Star Kingdom H., G3 Kevin Heffernan S., G3 BRC Sprint H. and Listed June S., he has placed in the G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup, G1 Galaxy H., G1 All-Aged S, G2 Challenge S., G2 Rubiton S. and another four stakes races.
His Group 1 placings have come behind the likes of Russian Revolution (Snitzel), Redzel (Snitzel), Tivaci (High Chaparral {Ire}), Le Romain (Hard Spun {USA}) and Clearly Innocent (Not a Single Doubt).
