Racing: Unhappy anniversary for Sargent

Passchendaele will miss the Auckland Cup tomorrow after injuring a fetlock during training yesterday. Photo / Greg Bowker

John Sargent could only shake his head when Passchendaele broke down yesterday morning.

Later in the day, Six O'Clock News and Back In Black were also withdrawn after experiencing problems.

"How much luck do you need in this game?" said the master Matamata trainer after an x-ray revealed the ruling $1 million Stella Artois Auckland Cup favourite had cracked a front fetlock.

"It's 12 months to the day that she broke down last time," lamented Sargent.

Passchendaele requires an operation to repair the fetlock joint and it is early days to know what the mare's chances are of returning to racing.

If there is any justice she will return and win the 2012 version of the Auckland Cup.

This time last year she looked a weight special to win the Cup and with only 53kg this time Sargent and the TAB bookmakers were sure they were on a winner.

On the same day 12 months ago, Passchendaele split a hind cannon bone.

This time, the nearside front fetlock went amiss.

"She was only doing striding work on the course proper to get her ready for Wednesday," said Sargent.

"She came back in and didn't look bad, but a bit later something wasn't quite right so I had the joint x-rayed.

"Sure enough, there's a line down the fetlock."

It was obvious Passchendaele was right back to her best when she finished third to two of the best, Red Ruler and Booming, in the $200,000 Darci Brahma International at Te Rapa last start.

"How well was she in the Auckland Cup dropping 4kg from that race to go around with 53kg?" asked Sargent.

Passchendaele had been the clearcut $3.50 Cup favourite.

Six O'Clock News was pulled out of the big race after showing signs of a virus.

"When I walked into his box this morning things weren't right," said trainer Trent Busuttin.

"I took him to the track and gave him a light trot, but he didn't improve.

"I pulled a blood off him and it was crap, so he had to come out. It's very bad timing."

Busuttin said he needed to talk to his group of owners, but felt the best option would be to send Six O'Clock News for a short spell and prepare him for a Queensland winter campaign.

"There are a lot of options up there."

The TAB reacted to the withdrawals by promoting the original third favourite Roi D'Jeu to $4.50 favouritism. Showcause is at $4.80 and Innocent Lady, $7.

It hasn't really been John Sargent's week. Stable runner Banchee was taken out of Saturday's Telecom Derby because of the wet track.

"And the rain didn't help Yin Yang Master (4th) and Yourein (7th)."

But Sargent knows only too well this is a game in which you must look forward, not back.

"I've got Red Ruler to look forward to in the weight-for-age on Saturday and two nice 2-year-olds in Chateaunuef Dupape and Savabill in the Diamond Stakes.

"Still, it's frustrating. "I'm going for a beer."