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Ustedes Switches to Henderson Team
01/02/11

There have been more than a couple of raised eyebrows at the news that Alan King’s stable star Voy Por Ustedes has been moved from the Barbury Castle trainer to the care of Nicky Henderson at Seven Barrows, on the instruction of the gelding’s owner Sir Robert Ogden, writes Elliot Slater.

Voy Por Ustedes (left)
© racing-images.co.uk

The 2007 Queen Mother Champion Chase winner has been out of action since running at Cheltenham in April when finishing a disappointing fifth behind Duc de Regniere in a Grade 2 event. The 10-year-old was sent north to Sir Robert’s Yorkshire estate where he has been cared for by a team of vets who, after exhaustive tests, established that the horse had been carrying an injury to his ilium wing and was in significant discomfort in his left stifle.

In revealing the nature of the injuries, Ogden’s spokesman Barry Simpson made it clear to those assessing racing tips that the symptoms of the injury were not apparent at the time he was racing and performing below expectations last season. Simpson went on to say that Sir Robert believes that a change of scene might well help spark a revival in the high-class performer who has won close to £1 million in prize money during an outstanding career under the care of Alan King.

As well as the 2007 Champion Chase, King sent out Voy Por Ustedes to win the 2006 Arkle Chase (ridden as usual by Robert Thornton), the 2008 Aintree Melling Chase, the 2009 Ascot Chase and the Melling Chase for a second time in 2009, all Grade 1 events. He was also twice second in the Tingle Creek Chase, as well as finishing runner-up in the 2008 Champion Chase and the 2009 Ryanair Chase, to Imperial Commander.

Ogden has given instructions that if the horse shows no sign of recovering his best form he will be retired and brought back to Yorkshire to enjoy the rest of his days out in the paddocks.