Astronomer has minor setback, out until spring
Astronomer, the upset winner of the $152,000 Qatar Golden Mile for 2-year-olds on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 5, will not race again until the spring.
Trainer Simon Callaghan said on Friday that Astronomer was recently diagnosed with a minor injury that will require a wintertime break. Astronomer is scheduled to remain at Callaghan’s stable during the recovery and will not require surgery, he said.
“He’s had a little setback,” Callaghan said. “He just needed a little time.”
Astronomer is a half-brother to the 4-year-old filly Harvest Moon, a two-time stakes winner who is entered in Sunday’s Grade 3 Bayakoa Stakes for fillies and mares at Los Alamitos.
Owned by Alice Bamford and Michael Tabor, Astronomer has won 2 of 4 starts and earned $109,900. In the Golden Mile, Astronomer closed from fourth on the rail under top European rider Ryan Moore to win by a half-length at 30-1.
“Hopefully, he’s the type of horse that can keep getting better,” Callaghan said. “If he does well enough we can take him back East.”