Akuta injured and immediate future in doubt

By Adam Hamilton

Superstar pacer Akuta's Australian trip is off and his immediate racing career is in limbo.

Trainer Mark Purdon revealed his stable star injured a tendon in a training mishap on Wednesday and he fears it could be "quite serious."

"We won't know the full extent until the swelling goes down a bit and we can get it scanned, which might be two weeks," he said.

"At this stage we're worried it could be quite serious given the amount of swelling."

Purdon said Akuta pulled a shoe off in work and when the shoe came loose, it contacted the tendon.

Akuta was due to fly to Australia next Wednesday with young gun stablemate Don't Stop Dreaming.

The injury almost certainly rules him out of the Miracle Mile and the Race By Grins.

"Now we'll just take the one," Purdon said, "Don't Stop Dreaming will still definitely going across."

But Akuta's setback will see a change of plans for Don't Stop Dreaming.

"We will run him in the Hunter Cup now, instead of the 4YO Bonanza," Purdon said.

"He'll run in the Casey Classic Saturday week and then onto the Hunter Cup a week later.

"Then we'll go to Sydney for the one of the lead-up races to try and get his spot in the Chariots Of Fire."