Path To The Queen's Plate: End of the Road as Southdale Ruled Out With Shoulder Injury

What follows is the seventh installment of my ongoing diary detailing the preparation and hard work that goes into training a contender for the Queen's Plate. While many racing fans only see the two minutes of action that occurs on the track, trainer Ian Black has graciously provided Triple Dead Heat with access to his barn as he conditions Southdale for North America's oldest thoroughbred graded stakes race. Over the coming weeks I will introduce you to the people behind the scenes, provide footage from workouts, and inside access to race day events. I'm thankful to Ian Black and his team for this opportunity and hope the resulting diary will be as much fun to read as it has been for me to experience.

May 9, 2009 Diary Entry An Introduction including a Cast of Characters.
May 13, 2009 Diary Entry A Workout Day For Southdale.
May 25, 2009 Diary Entry Team Southdale Rallies Around Rahy's Attorney
May 26, 2009 Diary Entry Getting Equipped For The Plate Trial
May 31, 2009 Diary Entry The Two Turn Test
June 1, 2009 Diary Entry You Can Believe The Hype

June 2, 2009
I am sad to report that Southdale, the focus of my Path To The Queen's Plate Diary, has suffered a suspected shoulder injury and will be out for the remainder of the summer. I spoke to trainer Ian Black this afternoon who reported he arrived at six a.m Monday morning to gallop Southdale following his second place finish in the Plate Trial but found the colt unable to work. Black went on to express his sadness for Southdale's owners Rod and Margaret Ferguson but does hope that Southdale will return to race later on in the 2009 campaign.

Rather than try and gather quotes, I really just wanted to convey to Mr. Black that I am absolutely gutted on his behalf and that of his team. Injuries are a part of the game but the timing of this injury is unquestionably cruel.

I would rather not have this diary end on such a low note and will certainly post a more fulsome entry before the Queen's Plate. It does make you wonder how good Southdale really must be to have ended his Queen's Plate quest with such a brilliant performance while fighting his way through headwind and injury.

Bill Tallon of the Daily Racing Form filed the following report:

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Southdale to miss Queen's Plate
By Bill Tallon
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Southdale, a leading contender for the June 21 Queen's Plate, came out of last weekend's Plate trial with an injury and is expected to be be sidelined for at least the balance of the summer.

A thorough examination on Monday found the source of the problem.

"He's hurt up in the shoulder," said Ian Black, who trains Southdale for owner/breeder Rod Ferguson.

"We blocked [froze] him from the foot to the ankle to the knee, and we still couldn't get him to go sound. Assuming the shoulder is what it is, three months of stall rest usually fixes those things," said Black. "It's different if it's muscle but I don't think it is, to be honest with you."

Southdale, unstarted at 2, burst onto the Queen's Plate scene this spring, finishing third in his 6 1/2-furlong debut at Keeneland and then winning his maiden over seven furlongs here.

Despite his lack of experience, his evident talent was enough for Southdale to be made the strong 2-1 favorite in the 1 1/8-mile Plate Trial, which he lost by just a neck to Eye of the Leopard after leading deep into the stretch.

"I'm sorry for the owner, and everyone at the barn," said Black. "The Queen's Plate only comes around once a year."
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The Queen's Plate will be run on Sunday June 21st.