Everest contender Espionage to miss Spring Carnival Season with injury

Espionage, one of Australia’s most exciting young thoroughbreds, will not race in this year’s Spring Carnival Races. The Zoustar colt suffered a leg injury in training that will require surgery to correct.
 
His trainers and managing owner say he will not race until sometime next year.
 
Before suffering his injury, Espionage was a betting favourite or major contender for several top Group 1 races. He had an $18 chance to win in The Everest betting odds lists.

$1 million horse goes down

Espionage has been a name all horse racing betting fans have been keeping a close eye on ever since Coolmore Stud bought him for $1 million at the Magic Millions yearling auction in January 2023.
 
The three-year-old almost immediately delivered on his potential by winning the Group 3 Breeders' Plate at Randwick that September. He then finished runner-up in the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill the following February.
 
After his strong start, Espionage was tipped to have a strong 2024/25 season, starting with the Spring Carnival. That’s out of the question now.
 
The son of Zoustar suffered an injury to his leg and will not race before next year.

Managing owner reveals injury

On Sunday, Espionage’s managing owner James Harron revealed that the colt will not be racing this spring.
 
“After kicking out on the walker, Espionage was found to have a tibial bone sequestrum,” Harron said, “(it) will require surgical removal, and as such he miss what was planned to be a very exciting Spring for him.
 
“Raced under the James Harron Bloodstock Colt partnership along with Coolmore Stud, Espionage will undergo surgery this week.
 
“The veterinary team have every confidence that he will be fully recovered in time for the Autumn, where he will be targeting Australia’s leading sprint races for trainers Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse,” Harron explained.

Coolmore Stud and Everest Previews

Two of the races we were most looking forward to seeing Espionage in were the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington and The Everest at Randwick.
 
The Colt was listed at $11 to win the Coolmore Stud and had an $18 chance to win according to The Everest Betting odds. He wasn’t the favourite for either of these races, but he was definitely a contender. His absence from the potential pool or runners will be missed.
 
Growing Empire ($3) is the current Coolmore Stud Stakes favourite with Traffic Warden ($8), Storm Boy ($8), and First Settler ($9) close behind.
 
The Everest betting odds are similarly close. I Wish I Win leads the way with $5 chances, followed by Giga Kick and Bella Nipotina at $8. Annabel Neasham’s Sunshine In Paris rounds out the current top four with $9 chances.