Cole team retain faith following Chief disappointment

Highland Chief (centre) suffered a back injury when well-beaten in the Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket

Highland Chief was found to have hurt his back following his poor run in the Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

The injury is not thought to be serious, but it was enough to see him perform below expectations in the Group Two contest over a mile.

The son of Gleneagles was sent off 5-1 second favourite on what was his first race since he finished third to the brilliant Pinatubo in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot.

However, he never gave his supporters much hope over the Rowley Mile and he trailed home sixth of seven behind Royal Dornoch, beaten 13 lengths.

“He pulled something in his back which is why his tail was in the air,” said Oliver Cole, assistant to his father.

“The vet has seen him this morning.

He may have wrenched his back or something.

It’s not too serious.

“He’s never raced with his tail in the air and when the jockey went to push him, he went for a stride and then pulled himself up.

“We saw him on Sunday and his back was a bit sensitive, so we will have to put a line through that race.

“We’ll play it by ear, but we’d hope to give him another run.

”

Majestic Dawn did the Cole stable proud with a game effort in the Cambridgeshire that saw him take fifth place after making most of the running.

He stuck to his task well after being headed in the nine-furlong cavalry charge won emphatically by Lord North.

“It was a bit short for him.

He ran well,” said Cole.

“He needs a couple of furlongs more, but he’s a good horse.

“He’ll probably run again this season.”

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