MOUTONSHOEK Stud’s newly acquired stallion, The United States (IRE), will miss the rest of the 2017 breeding season due to injury.

The United States arrived off the racetrack in time for the breeding season. He was brilliantly received at the Stallion Day and the subsequent performances of his full sister Hydrangea, with 2 Grade 1 wins against Europe’s best, further added to the demand for this Grade 1 winning son of Galileo.

The United States (Hamish Niven).

The United States took to his new profession with inordinate vigour.  Despite his wonderful, even temperament, he may have been a little too keen as a young stallion when surveying his potential visitors, and injured himself in the process.

After starting his stud duties, The United States displayed signs of lameness and was taken to Cape Town to be X-rayed. The X-Rays showed a comminute fracture of the end of the second pastern bone (distal end of the second phalanx). This is a highly unusual fracture.

Moutonshoek Stud said in a statement:  “His welfare obviously comes first and his rehabilitation is our biggest priority and will be tailored to bring him back for the 2018 season. To date he has 19 mares in foal. We would like to thank all of The United States supporters and wish him a speedy return to full health and stud duties.”