DUAL-CLASSIC winner Big Brown suffered a career-ending injury in a work a Aqueduct on Monday morning, dashing all hopes of a much-anticipated meeting with reigning Horse of the Year Curlin in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita on October 25.
BigBrown had worked over Aqueduct's turf course in company with defending Breeders' Cup Mile champion Kip Deville, the two finishing on even terms in 1min 12.80sec for six furlongs.
However Big Brown was found to have damaged the inside of his off-fore during the move, an injury severe enough to call a halt to the brilliant horse's career. He was not to have run as a four-year-old, with the Classic his final intended start. "Big Brown has been retired, said majority owner IEAH Stable spokesman Michael Iavarone.
"He not only tore the bulb off his foot, but half of the foot was torn off. We did everything w could to get to the Breeders' Cup. It's devastating. And what makes it even worse is he worked great."
Curlin was cut to 7-2 favourite (from 4) for the Classic by Ladbrokes following the news, while 2,000 Guineas winner Henrythenavigator is 5-1 second favourite.
