Racing: Another top trotter on injury list

New Zealand's open-class trotting ranks have suffered their second blow in a week with champion mare One Over Kenny to miss the entire season.

The millionaire mare will spend the next few months in the paddock after failing to get over a quarter crack in a hoof.

The problem worsened after she ran second in her first trial for the new season at Alexandra Park last week and trainer Tony Herlihy says he will not take any risks with the mare.

"She is not right and she needs time off for the hoof to repair," said Herlihy.

"So basically she will be out for the rest of the season. With the time off she is going to have she will miss all the big races so we might as well start again next season."

Her problems come a week after her arch-rival Stig was ruled out of summer racing with a leg problem and at best he will make it back to the track in time only for the Rowe Cup in May.

That leaves Springbank Richard, who was beaten into fifth in Melbourne on Friday night, and Sovereignty as the dominant pair at the head of open-class trotting ranks heading into the rich northern summer series of races.

Sovereignty will headline that group in pre-Christmas racing, with Springbank Richard likely to return for the National Trot on December 31.

Leading southern mare Speculate is spelling and won't be coming north for the major races in the next six weeks.

While One Over Kenny's form is a setback for Herlihy, fellow trainer Dave Shorter has been hit with far worse news after losing his wonderful mare Eyecatcher Courage.

One of New Zealand's fastest-ever mares, Eyecatcher Courage had to be put down last week after breaking a leg.

A former Sires' Stakes winner at three, Eyecatcher Courage broke a bone in her leg when resuming at Alexandra Park 11 days ago.

The leg had screws inserted in it in an operation soon after but shattered when the mare tried to stand, leaving vets with no option but to put her down.

Shorter owned and trained the uninsured horse, who had huge value as a broodmare.

Not only did she win at group two and three level but finished third to Kiwi Ingenuity in her record Harness Jewels last season, meaning she had an official mile time of 1:53.4, the third-fastest by a mare in this country.

"It is very sad because she was going to be our foundation broodmare for the future," said Shorter.

"I am not worried about the money we are going to lose but I feel sorry for her because she was a such a good mare and tried so hard."

The field for the Ladyship Stakes at Alexandra Park on Friday night is: Nevermind Franco (1), De Lovely (2), Sloane Square (3), Lancome (4), Gotta Go Harmony (5), Sixpence (6), Surf And Sand (7), Anvil On Fire (8), Bella Me (emg) (9), Seshny Bromac (10), Warp Speed (11), Arctic Fire (12), Matai Mies (13), Meredith Maguire (14) fr.