Exciting Minzaal Set To Make Late Start To Flat Season

Exciting three year old Minzaal for trainer Owen Burrows has been dealt a blow ahead of the upcoming flat season with the Commonwealth Cup contender set to have a late start to the term after having surgery on a leg injury.

Minzaal was electric last term, having landed the Group Two Gimcrack Stakes at York's Ebor meeting and that being the highlight of his season.

He looked to be a rising star for the Owen Burrows yard at the start of the term, having made his debut at Ascot in a classy maiden and finishing fourth.

He came on massively for that run and cruised to victory in a Class 5 event at Salisbury, winning by just under four lengths but never coming off the bridle.

In what looked a decent field of juveniles at York, he again travelled strongly into the six furlong event and when Crowley went for the whip he responded in kind and pulled away from the field to take his first black type contest of his career.

Last time out he was stepped up to a Group One field and although finishing third behind the Clive Cox trained Supremacy it was still an eye-catching run that can be built on as a three year old.

With his sites set on the Commonwealth Cup, it now looks a race against time to get him fit enough for the race at Royal Ascot.

(Credit ATR) “Unfortunately Minzaal injured himself in his box before Christmas,” said the Burrows.

“He’s had to have surgery and he’s back at Shadwell at the moment recuperating.“Whether or not he’ll make Ascot will be just determined on how he progresses now. It’s a shame.

“He must have banged a hind leg and has had a couple of chips removed off his hocks.

“Obviously the Commonwealth Cup was the plan. There’s still a small chance. God willing, we’ll have him back at some stage this year.”