In what is a blow to South African racing enthusiasts, it has been announced that Equus Champion Smart Call (Ideal World) will not keep her Breeders’ Cup engagement.

Her trainer Alec Laird recently posted this announcement on facebook: “We regret to update that smart call will no longer be taking part in the Breeders Cup (F&M Turf).

Unfortunately she has not had enough time to heal properly. The original injury has shown signs of flaring up again and its apparent she hasn’t had enough time for the muscle/ligaments to heal. The California dream is therefore on hold. She will recuperate through the winter with the plan to target some races next year. If all goes well next year, then we will once again consider the Breeders Cup.”

Smart Call had recently been scratched from her most recent race, the Gr1 Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes when found to be lame.

Equus Champion Older Filly/Mare and Champion Miler last season, Smart Call received an invite to the 2016 Gr1 Breeders’ Cup F&M Turf following her two length defeat of Inara (Trippi) in last season’s Gr1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes.

Owned and bred by Mauritzfontein Stud, the champ has won seven of her 16 outings, with her most notable win coming in the 2016 Gr1 J&B Met, where Smart Call accounted for subsequent Horse Of The Year Legal Eagle (Greys Inn) by three and a half lengths.