Racing: Sovereignty joins top trotters on sideline

New Zealand has lost its second champion trotter to injury in a week.

Superstar 4-year-old Sovereignty will miss the remainder of the season after being diagnosed with a problem in his front right pastern.

That will force him to spend the next three months on the sidelines but his connections are hopeful he will be back for next season.

His injury comes just days after our best trotter, Stig, was ruled out for six months, meaning both will miss the $300,000 Rowe Cup on May 1.

That race was only ever a secondary target for Sovereignty though, with his main autumn aim the Harness Jewels at Ashburton on May 30.

He smashed the national 3-year-old record winning his division of the Jewels last season on the way to being voted Trotter of the Year.

Sovereignty quickly established himself in open class this season, pushing great mare One Over Kenny close in the major trots at the Alexandra Park meeting in December.

But trainer Sean McCaffrey and owner Charlie Hunter had their suspicions something was wrong last Friday when Sovereignty was beaten at Alexandra Park.

"He was sluggish at the start again, which suggested he was a bit uncomfortable," said Hunter yesterday.

"So we had him thoroughly examined on Monday and Tuesday and a digital x-ray found the problem.

"The vets are confident we can manage it long-term but he is too good a horse to take any chances with."

The injuries to Stig and Sovereignty and the departure yesterday of Australian champion Sundon's Gift to Europe have weakened the Rowe Cup, which had earlier shaped as the strongest trotting race in years.

One Over Kenny will now be a hot favourite for the May 1 classic and victory would make her New Zealand's first millionaire trotting mare.

And Sovereignty is not the only big name to pull out of the 4-year-old division of the Jewels, with trainer Tim Butt confirming yesterday that early-season star Ray has been operated on and will also miss the series.