Petrushka out of race after fracture

Triple Group One winning filly Petrushka suffered a chipped fracture in training at Nad Al Sheba and will miss the $6 million Dubai World Cup.

"It's not a serious injury, but it's enough to rule her out," trainer Sir Michael Stoute told Gulf News yesterday. "Obviously it's disappointing for everyone, particularly Karina (Prodhomme), who has looked after her from the start.

"But these things happen in racing and they will continue to happen. It happens to anybody in sport, be it a cricketer or a footballer. There's no way we could have seen an accident like this coming.

"Our main concern is to see how she recovers. At this point it does not seem to be very serious. So we'll just have to wait and see," he added.

Petrushka, winner of the Yorkshire and Irish Oaks last Autumn, has been targetted at the Dubai World Cup ever- since finishing fifth to Perfect Sting in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Churchill Downs last November.

"Obviously, we are extremely disappointed that such a top class filly as Petrushka has been forced to withdraw from the Dubai World Cup," Les Benton, chairman of the Dubai World Cup committee, said. "However, our primary concern is always with the welfare of the horse and while we are disappointed, we do sympathise with Petrushka and her trainer and wish them every success in the future."