Sacred Kingdom

[my miss storm cat]

Sacred Kingdom Fights For Life

Written by Carl Di Iorio
Friday, 19 March 2010 01:42

Champion sprinter Sacred Kingdom, pictured winning the 2009 Hong Kong International Sprint (1200m), is currently fighting for his life after suffering a bout of colic on Thursday.
The world’s undisputed champion sprinter Sacred Kingdom is fighting for his life after suffering a bout of colic on Thursday.

The Australian-bred Hong Kong-based sprinter was due to depart Hong Kong airport for Japan in preparation of the ¥202,350,000 (approximately $2.4 million) Group 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1200m) on March 27 at Chukyo Racecourse.

However the flight never departed as the six-year-old showed signs of distress prior to takeoff.

Sacred Kingdom was treated with sedatives on the tarmac however his condition deteriorated dramatically soon after.

“By the time the chief vet from Hong Kong Jockey Club arrived, the horse needed immediate surgery," trainer Ricky Yiu told The Age.

That surgery has been performed with the next 24 hours of critical importance to Sacred Kingdom’s future.

Depending on the success of the initial surgery, a second operation may be required.

Purchased for $200,000 by Yiu at the 2005 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Sacred Kingdom has won 15 times from 23 starts accumulating over $6 million in prizemoney.

While Sacred Kingdom has always been a sprinter blessed with talent, it has been the past two seasons where the gelding has elevated himself up into champion status with amazing consistency against the ill-fated Absolute Champion before winning last year’s Krisflyer Sprint ahead of Rocket Man and than the Hong Kong International Sprint.

Sacred Kingdom last raced on February 21, defeating Sunny King in the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin to ensure he has won five of his last seven starts.

http://formguide.cyberhorse.com.au/i...-for-life.html