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Rhinestone
blow for O'Neill 23/11/2004
Jonjo O'Neill has ruled Ladbrokes World Hurdle second-favourite Rhinestone Cowboy out for the remainder of the season.
The John Magnier-owned eight-year-old has been sidelined with a "leg injury".
" Rhinestone is out for the season," confirmed O'Neill. "He's got a leg injury and he's been scanned today. We're going to get it fired, but he's gone for the year unfortunately.
" It's very disappointing. I'm sick for the owners and sick for young JP (Magnier) who rides him. I'm also pretty sick for myself."
The Be My Native gelding, a winner of eight of his 11 starts over hurdles, including two Grade One events in April - the Martell Cognac Aintree Hurdle and Ballymore Properties Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown - was expected to stay over the smaller obstacles this season.
" We were looking forward to seeing him run again this season - the longer trips seemed to suit him and we would have had plenty of options with him, but the Stayers' Hurdle would probably have been his race.
" He's a very exciting horse and if he went chasing he'd be a super jumper, but sadly, there is nothing we can do about it. That's racing. These things happen - a bit too much for my liking this season - but I'm sick just the same. Everyone is."
However, O'Neill, whose Jackdaws Castle stable has suffered a relatively lean time recently by their standards, delivered an upbeat report on last year's Stayers' Hurdle hero Iris's Gift, who suffered two hairline fractures of the cannonbone earlier in the season.
" I suppose you have to try and look on the bright side. We're losing one as another is on the way back. Fortunately Iris's Gift is better than we first thought he would be when suffered his leg injury and he has been a very willing patient.
" He's been swimming and he will do some more this week, and he will be walking as well before he starts cantering next Monday. He's in grand order and it's good to get him back. We'll see how he is before deciding what route to go with him. He will tell us when he is ready."
