When nominations for the New Zealand Cup close next week one notable name will be missing.
Sidelined with a strained tendon last January, Arden Rooney is unlikely to return before the new year, ruling him out of his Cup title defence on November 8.
Last year the son of Bettors Delight produced a stellar effort to complete the A G Hunter/NZ Cup double.
In doing so, Arden Rooney also helped trainer-driver Kerryn Manning become the first reinswoman to secure the Kiwi’s time-honoured handicap.
Having recently been given the all-clear by vets, Arden Rooney has started the long road back to racing, with Manning hoping for an early January return.
“He just had his six-month scan and the vet described it as perfect,” Manning said. “He has started doing a bit of water walking and light exercise.
“He has gotten very beefy, so the main thing is to get the weight off him without straining the leg.
“There is no rush with him…after a couple of months rehab he will start track work and hopefully be back in early January.”
Should Arden Rooney return to his former heights, Manning will aim the six-year-old at Victoria’s famed Summer Of Glory carnival, which includes the Victoria and Hunter cups.
“Those races are not out of the question at this stage and hopefully he can come up in time for them,” Manning said.
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