Last season's Japanese Derby winner Kizuna will not race in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe this fall after being diagnosed with a broken left foreleg, the Japan Racing Association announced on Thursday.
Four-year-old Kizuna is believed to have suffered the injury in Sunday's 3,200-meter Tenno-sho at Kyoto Racecourse, where the Yutaka Take-ridden colt came fourth after starting as the overwhelming favorite.
According to trainer Shozo Sasaki, Kizuna could be out for half a year, which will rule him out of the Arc in October, a race he was fourth in last season. But the Deep Impact son may be fit enough to run in the season-ending Arima Kinen on Dec. 28.
"It's not too serious but not too light, either," Sasaki said, adding that Kizuna will undergo surgery on Friday.