Australian Bloodstock and trainer Anthony Freedman have retired German import Lucas Cranach after the entire lost his battle to return to the track after a long break.
“Basically he has contracted a bone disease and has got an issue with the cannon,” Australian Bloodstock co-founder Luke Murrell said.
“From what the vets have told us, it is similar to a human having a degenerative bone problem and it is just not getting any better.
“He didn’t have the problem when we bought him but it has developed in him in time and it has ended his career. The analogy the vets gave us is that it is like having a high rise building and a hole developing in one of the supports that has weakened it.
“We have tried a few experimental things and he just hasn’t got any better. The vet’s advice is he will need another operation and he’ll be able to stand at stud, possibly in New Zealand.”
Lucas Cranach was a Group II winner in Germany before the son of Mamool replicated the feat at his final start in the Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on February 25 last year.
The six-year-old was a scratching from the 2012 Group I Australian Cup (2000m) as his condition worsened before a series of treatments failed to get him back to racing.
“He’s just not going to stand up to racing so there was no option but to retire him,” Murrell said.
Murrell said Lucas Cranach will remain at Freedman’s property as his owners attempt to negotiate a stud future for the winner of six of his 12 starts.
“He just needs a bit more time for treatment but it’s only early in the season so we’re hopeful a deal can be done to stand him at stud somewhere,” he said.
© MiStable 2013
