Group 1 Winner Addeybb on Road to Recovery

William Haggas hopes Addeybb  is "over the worst" after an infection left him fearing the star globetrotter might never race again.

An infected blood clot caused the group 1 winner to lose a significant amount of weight and left Haggas concerned for his welfare. 

The son of Pivotal finished sixth in the QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1) at Ascot last month, a race he won in 2020, but was subsequently lame and then spent time with the vet after the clot was discovered.

Haggas said: "Unfortunately Addeybb developed a blood clot on his hock after the Champion Stakes, which got infected. He came home from the vets a few days ago and the bloods we've taken from him since indicate he's going the right way.

"When I first went to see him I thought he looked dreadful. To my eye he looked like he had lost 50 kilos in a week. When I spoke to his owner I said there is a strong chance that he may not race again.

"I'm not saying he was never going to live but these things can go badly wrong. He looks a lot brighter now. I think and hope we are over the worst."

A third consecutive appearance at the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival in 2022 has already been ruled out.

On his last Australian trip, the 7-year-old beat subsequent Lexus Melbourne Cup (G1) winner Verry Elleegant when landing the Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) for a second time at Randwick in April.

Addeybb, who was taking his Aussie group 1 tally to three that day, has had only two domestic races this year.

Haggas said: "Hopefully in the next fortnight we can turn him away in a paddock for a break, but we'll have to give Australia a miss this time."