Never Plead Guilty has undergone a bone marrow transplant for a injured tendon. He sustained the injury in light work and Brendon Bell, an Invercargill veterinarian, performed the operation.
"He will be out for 12 months," Paul Richards, his Wingatui trainer, said.
• Stephanie Payne, the starter for the Canterbury Jockey Club, has been reminded of her obligations, after an inquiry into an attendant being struck by a horse leaving the starting gates.
Aaron Taylor was struck when in front of the starting gates when the field was dispatched at Riccarton on April 24.
"She was reminded of her obligations to follow the starter's manual step by step," Cameron George, the chief stipendiary steward, said at Wingatui yesterday.
George directed immediately after the incident that the starter be positioned in front of overhead starting gates such as used at Riccarton.
Garry Lightfoot, the former starter for the CJC, has been asked to mentor Payne.
"We are confident with these three actions there will not be a recurrence of the incident," George said.
• Jamie Bullard was suspended four days from midnight on Saturday until midnight on Friday for careless riding yesterday.
Bullard defended the charge which related to his mount Petranova shifting in near the 1000m in race two, causing tightening to Thriller, Estee Lordia, American Apparel and Farewell Flight.
