Trainer Nathan Purdon has confirmed that Spellbound will take a break from racing as his stable star fights to recover from a troublesome back injury.
The group one winning mare has not been right since suffering an injury in a paddock accident which resulted in her being withdrawn from The Race in New Zealand last month.
Injury concerns
The injury has flared up again in recent days and Purdon is taking no chances with Spellbound, who is now set to undergo a bone scan.
There has been no talk of retirement from the Purdon camp just yet and connections will be hoping Spellbound can make a full recovery.
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“Long story short, she has ended up with a sore back,” Purdon said. “She has come back here, we were working her down, I was really happy with her work and we were just starting to get serious the last week or two heading into a race.
“After a strong work last Saturday, she just didn't come off it all too well. She's not really bad, probably 80 per cent, but the horse doesn't deserve to go around in any sort of pain, so we will tip her out and look after her.”
Amore Vita return
There is some good news for Purdon with Amore Vita set to return from a spell at Melton on Saturday night.
“When I saw it was a small field, it was just the perfect sort of pipe-opener for her,” Purdon added. “She seems really well and I'm really happy with the way she's come back.”
