Sir Ron Priestley career in doubt after old injury flares up in Goodwood Cup

Sir Ron Priestley suffered a recurrence of a suspensory injury when third in Tuesday's Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup, with the problem described by trainer Mark Johnston as career- but not life-threatening.

The five-year-old missed all of 2020 but had made a successful return this season, winning three of his first five races.

Closely related to the stable's Gold Cup winner Subjectivist, who himself is on the sidelines with injury, Sir Ron Priestley was supplemented for a first try over 2m for £25,000 and ran well to finish third behind Trueshan and Away He Goes.

Goodwood Cup: full result and race replay

However, he did not return to the parade ring after the race as Franny Norton quickly pulled him up and dismounted. He was brought back to an on-site veterinary box after being assessed.

Johnston said: "He has re-injured the old suspensory injury that kept him out during 2020. It could well be worse than it was last time. It's not good news but it's not life threatening.

"He did not collapse on the track, he pulled up lame. He's aggravated the old injury and he's gone home.

"He walked on the box, he was standing out here for a while after they bandaged him. He's not fine, it's a serious injury. These things are serious but it's not life threatening in any way.

Mark Johnston: 'He's come back and he's won three races and run third in a Group 1'Credit: Edward Whitaker

"They're always career-threatening injuries, but it was career threatening the last time it happened. He's had the year off but he's come back and he's won three races and run third in a Group 1. Unfortunately these things don't go away."

Goodwood clerk of the course Ed Arkell added: "Sir Ron Priestley was pulled up slightly lame about 300 yards after the line.

"He was dismounted, Franny walked back and the horse was assessed, loaded into the horse ambulance and brought back to the veterinary treatment box for further examination."

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