In spite of extensive lobbying, quarantine regulations have scuppered any chances of Mauritian champion Parachute Man competing in the Gr1 Sun Met at Kenilworth on 28 January.

In a notice to the horse’s owners, trainer Ricky Maingard said that, “it is with regret that we have had to call off Parachute Man’s participation in the forthcoming Sun Met.

Parachute Man (Le Express)

This is due mainly to the South African Directorate of Animal Health refusing to consider the use of the Kenilworth quarantine (officially approved as an outgoing quarantine station) for our use on arrival in the RSA where Parachute Man and his travelling companion could be trained each day preceding the race.”

There were hopes of the Gauteng autumn season after the Met but those plans have also fallen through.

“The next opportunity for Parachute Man to fly out to South Africa is only in March and quarantine in Johannesburg (30 days with no training facility), is far too late.”

There were also plans for Champions Season in KZN. “But he would be an unfit horse leaving quarantine mid-April, with only two and a half months to get him to his peak which is very tight, even assuming that nothing goes wrong with his preparation,” summed up Maingard.

“After the July season, there would of course be the Gauteng Autumn carnival in October/November followed by a crack at the Met in January 2018 if all went well.

“The drawback is the fact that Parachute Man will then be a year older and most probably past his very best,” he concluded.

The owners of Parachute Man will meet early in the New Year to discuss the various options but for the immediate future, the horse will come out of isolation, put out of work and given a well-earned rest at Floreal.

By Andrew Harrison