Montjeu stallion Tavistock recovering after two operations on near fore foot

Cambridge Stud stallion Tavistock suffered a serious injury to his near fore foot that has required two bouts of surgery.

The New Zealand stud had previously reported that the son of Montjeu had been withdrawn from service for the remainder of the 2019 breeding season, and released further details on his condition.

The foot was operated on by Dr Ric Redden from Lexington, Kentucky on Friday, November 1, assisted by two farriers and Dr Hitchcock and Dr Zantingh from Cambridge Equine Hospital, reported the stud.

Dr Redden fitted an artificial shoe and sole to the foot and placed a support structure on the other foot to assist Tavistock in his recovery. He was confined to his box for the weekend, under observation and treatment from both Dr Hitchcock and Dr Redden, who has now gone back to the US.

However, as the horse was still uncomfortable it was decided, after consultation with Dr Redden following his arrival back in the US, that further surgery was necessary and would be performed by Dr Hitchcock and Dr Zantingh, in order to bring some relief.

The surgery was successful and he is recovering, added an update from the stud. While it had been hoped the initial surgery would have been enough, the second procedure was warranted in the horse’s best interest.

Tavistock, it was previously stated, has covered 76 mares out of a large book with 43 in foal and 23 under service, and has had a strong start to the racing season, particularly in Australia, off the back of good sale results.

His three-year-old son The Holy One took his record to three wins in five starts following his success in the mile Group 2 Stutt Stakes at Moonee Valley in late September, while seven-year-old gelding Gobstopper took second in this year's Group 3 Rotorua Cup.

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