Ladies In Red has been sidelined by a leg injury, but trainer Emma Stewart expects the champion mare to return to racing sometime in 2023.
Stewart told thetrots.com.au her superstar pacer had undergone surgery after sustaining a stress fracture to a back pastern bone.
She said the injury was noticed after Ladies In Red’s most recent win in the Group 2 Breeders Crown 4YO Mares Championship on November 19.
“She has just had a couple of screws in, nothing major,” Stewart said.
“That happened probably a couple of weeks ago, so she’ll have four months out and then she’ll be back again. I think the spell definitely won’t hurt her.”
Stewart said she hadn’t yet discussed Ladies In Red’s racing prospects, but expected that owners Bill and Anne Anderson would want to race on with the 22-time winner.
“She’s awfully close to a million dollars and she hasn’t been over-taxed,” she said.
“I don’t think this is a major setback for her.”
Ladies In Red has won six races at Group 1 level and $896,520 in prizemoney from 27 career starts.
HEAR STEWART TALK ABOUT LADIES IN RED’S INJURY BELOW: