Canterbury Stakes: Samadoubt overcomes serious injury to return to racing

Bjorn Baker had to make the phone call every trainer dreads. Scott Darby, the syndicator and owner, listened as he was given the bad news.

Samadoubt, their Group 1-winning weight-for-age star, had suffered tendon damage to his off-foreleg. The gelding’s race career was at the crossroads.

“It happened at trackwork one morning, just a routine piece of work,’’ Baker said. “I’m not too sure how the horse did it but I knew straight away it was serious.’’

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Samadoubt (left) defeating Happy Clapper (right) in the Group 1 Winx Stakes. Photo: Simon Bullard/AAP ImageSource:AAP

Darby has been operating his successful syndication business for more than 10 years and it wasn’t the first time he had received a call like this from a trainer – but this one stung.

“I remember that call from Bjorn and in this game you do get used to all the disappointments,’’ Darby said. “But it was still hard to take as Samadoubt was in career-best form at the time. He had just won his Group 1 and it was such a shame.

“It was my job to call all the owners in the syndicate and that is never easy.’’

Samadoubt suffered his leg injury 14 months ago. Baker and Darby were both aware a racetrack return was unlikely.

Tendon damage is difficult to overcome, often the injury re-occurs when a horse goes back into training or it can indirectly cause other significant injury problems.

But against the odds, Samadoubt is ready for a remarkable return to racing in the Group 1 $500,000 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Bjorn Baker (left) and syndicator Scott Darby (right) after Samadoubt’s win in the 2019 Chelmsford Stakes. Photo: Simon Bullard/AAP ImageSource:AAP

Samadoubt is now a rising eight-year-old but his trainer and part-owner are daring to dream the gelding might be ready to pick up where he left off before his leg injury.

During a triumphant 2019 spring campaign, he won the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) and Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m).

“We were always hopeful of getting Samadoubt back to the track and so far he is going great,’’ Baker said.

“You wouldn’t know he had the injury and although you are never quite sure how they will go raceday after such a long break, it is obvious he still has his zest for racing.

“No doubt it will be tough ask, it’s a very strong race but it’s exciting to have the horse back at the races. If he runs well, that’s great, but more importantly we want to see him come through the race well.’’

Darby said Samadoubt has been winning his trials with the vigour and purpose of a horse half his age.

“If he didn’t have that injury, on his trials he looks to have come back even better,’’ Darby said. “But we are not thinking about that, all we are worrying about is getting him back to the races safely.

Samadoubt’s win in the 2019 Canberra Cup was a turning point in his career. Photo: Grant GuySource:The Daily Telegraph

“Bjorn has given the horse a very steady build-up and three barrier trials so we are all looking forward to Saturday. When we were told it was a tendon, we thought that is probably it so it is fantastic to have him back.”

Samadoubt cost Darby only $40,000 when he purchased the horse at the 2015 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. Before his injury, the gelding had contested 39 races, winning 10 and earning nearly $1.1 million prizemoney.

Understandably, Darby has a soft spot for Samadoubt; “He’s an incredible horse as his meteoric rise through the grades last two preparations is something you don’t often see,’’ he said.

“He was a struggling benchmark horse at the midweeks three preparations ago then he won the Canberra Cup and a couple of Saturday races.

“We thought that is fantastic but then he came back in the spring that year and won the Group 1 and a Group 2. It was a real surprise to us and probably why we all felt so disappointed when he got injured.

Samadoubt has won both his trials since returning from injury. Photo: Mark Evans/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

“We have had top horses like She Will Reign and Yankee Rose who were stars for us right from the start but Samadoubt was a completely different feel because he was just going to be a battling horse – then all of a sudden he was wining at the top level.’’

Baker could not pinpoint any specific reason for Samadoubt’s form surge prior to his tendon injury.

“I suppose as they get older you learn a bit more about them,’’ he said. “Samadoubt was always a big horse who we learned needed plenty of work and he has got better with age.’’

The comeback of Samadoubt just happens to coincide with Darby Racing’s best-ever season.

Darby has syndicated the winners of 73 races and there is almost five months of the season remaining. His previous best win-haul was 70 wins in 2019-20.

“We have had an incredible season so far,’’ Darby said. “I keep thinking it is going to end sooner or later because everyone has their quiet runs but it is going well.’’

Samadoubt isn’t the only runner Darby has an interest in at Randwick on Saturday.

Darby Racing have bought a share in Golden Slipper favourite Profiteer. Photo: Grant GuySource:The Daily Telegraph

His Darby Syndications colours will also be carried by jockey Josh Parr on Harmony Rose in the Group 1 $1 million Randwick Guineas (1600m).

The Mark Newnham-trained Harmony Rose, winner of three of her four starts, is the only filly in the Guineas field. She is attempting to become only the second filly to win the classic after Mosheen in 2012.

“I know Mark has a big opinion of Harmony Rose,’’ Darby said. “She’s a very promising filly who we hope to get to the (ATC Australian) Oaks.’’

Darby also has a share in boom colt Profiteer, who puts his unbeaten record – and Golden Slipper favouritism – on the line in a compelling renewal of the Group 2 $300,000 Todman Stakes (1200m).

Profiteer, winner of his only two starts easily, is by 2016 Golden Slipper winner Capitalist out of the Snitzel mare, Athena Lass, who Darby Racing part-owned to win two of her 10 starts.

“We raced Profiteer’s dam and I have been saying to myself ‘why the hell didn’t we buy the colt at the sales,’’ Darby said. “But we have been able to buy back in the colt now and it will be interesting to see how he goes in the Todman Stakes. It’s going to be an exciting day.’’

Originally published asSamadoubt back from the brink and ready to fire

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