2 months ago
18
PUNTERS fear William Haggas’ superstar horse Economics will ‘never see a racecourse again’ – after worrying footage of him at Ascot emerged.
The Irish Champion Stakes winner was a big drifter in the market for the blockbuster £1.3million Champion Stakes last Saturday.
PADespite hardening before the off into 2-1 he could only manage sixth behind shock 40-1 winner Anmaat.
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But it was what the cameras caught after the race – rather than anything that happened in it – that worried punters.
Racing TV captured the moment Maureen Haggas – William’s wife and the daughter of legendary jockey Lester Pigott – wiped blood from the horse’s nose after the race.
This is the second time it has happened with Economics, who is just 14-1 with Ladbrokes for next year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
He also bled after hacking up in York’s Dante Stakes – the key Derby trial – last May.
Economics never ran in the Derby the following month but nabbed his first Group 1 in a thrilling finish against Auguste Rodin at Leopardstown last month.
All looked well after that and he went to Ascot to lock horns with French superstar Calandagan.
But the battle never truly materialised and now, after bleeding for a second time, there are huge doubts over the horse’s future.
Horses bleeding from the nostrils is bad because it indicates an issue in their lungs, and subsequently their breathing.
Commenting on the footage that has been shared widely, Nick Luck said at the time: “This is clearly an issue.
“It is very difficult when they have done it, not once but twice, to master and stay on top of.
“He’s been managed brilliantly and it’s a problem once it happens – it’s more likely than not to recur.”
Haggas has since said that perhaps he was wrong to run Economics on the soft ground, despite initially thinking he would go well on it.
Punters didn’t like the footage though and expressed fears over the three-year-old colt’s future.
One said: “Never sees a racetrack again.”
Another said: “Top horse. Sad to see the fragility.”
One comment read: “Doubt you’ll ever see him race again.”
While a fourth said: “I highly doubt we will see Economics again on a racecourse.”
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