Prince Of Penzance fairytale could be over after Melbourne Cup winner suffers serious injury

UPDATE: THE Prince Of Penzance fairytale is almost certainly over after the Melbourne Cup winner fractured a leg at Caulfield.

Prince Of Penzance and jockey John Allen pass Michelle Payne (rear) riding Dandy Gent before the start of the Herbert Power Stakes. Picture: Getty Images

THE Prince Of Penzance fairytale is almost certainly over after the Melbourne Cup winner fractured a leg at Caulfield.

The 2015 Flemington hero will have three screws inserted into his offside foreleg, signalling the end to hopes of successive Cup glories — and probably his career.

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Trainer Darren Weir concedes the seven-year-old is unlikely to race again.

“Unfortunately he’s sustained an injury that requires three screws put in a fracture in the offside foreleg,” Weir said.

“He’ll come through it really well. They’re very capable surgeons in Ballarat and hopefully he can recover well and who knows what will happen from there.”

Asked if there was a chance Prince Of Penzance could add to his 29 starts, seven wins and almost $4.5 million in stakes, Weir said: “I’ll have to talk to the owners about that.

“But the first thing is that the horse recovers fully first.”

Michelle Payne, who became the first female jockey in history to win a Melbourne Cup after piloting Prince Of Penzance to victory, was devastated at learning of her favourite horse’s injury.

“I’m upset, I’m hoping the horse will be OK,” she said. “That’s the main thing.

“I’m disappointed for connections he won’t be able to run in another Melbourne Cup.

“But as long as the horse is OK.”

Michelle Payne and Dandy Gent (left) shadow John Allen and Prince Of Penzance during the running of the second race at Caulfield. Picture: AAP

Prince Of Penzance finished fourth in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) behind Assign.

Many of the same owners who exulted in the historic victory at Flemington 11 months ago cut dejected figures as news of Prince Of Penzance’s plight filtered through.

Victoria’s premier trainer, Weir has endured a rugged spring with the demise of leading Cup fancy Signoff and injury to Cox Plate contender Tosen Stardom.

The setback clouded an otherwise glittering day at Caulfield, where Winx, David Hayes and Tom Dabernig, Dwayne Dunn, Gai Waterhouse and the Hawkes family excelled.

Hayes and Dabernig dominated with four winners — including the Group 1 Toorak Handicap with He’s Our Rokki, Wait For No One, Sheidel and Hear The Chant.

Horse Injury: 08-10-2016 Caulfield R2 - No.1 Prince of Penzance - suffered injury to off fore, requires sugery. Out for the spring

— RVStewards (@RVStewards) October 8, 2016

Dunn rode a treble, including Divine Prophet in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas for Team Hawkes, who also produced Group 2 Schillaci Stakes winner Star Turn.

Kerrin McEvoy and Gai Waterhouse combined with Global Glamour in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas, while superstar Winx landed her 12th straight win in the Caulfield Stakes.

Ridden by Hugh Bowman, Winx comfortably accounted for Black Heart Bart and He Or She in an impressive pipe-opener for the Cox Plate.

Prince Of Penzance (right), who it was later revealed was injured during the race, leaves the straight on the first occasion in the Herbert Power Stakes. Picture: Hamish Blair

Winx remains a TAB $1.90 favourite to win a second Cox Plate on October 21, while Divine Prophet shortened from $35 to $26 for WFA championship.

Assign firmed from $151 to $71 for the Melbourne Cup, leaving owner Lloyd Williams with the possibility of having up six runners in the race.

Daniel Stackhouse was suspended for nine meetings for causing interference on the luckless Pemberley in the Herbert Power while Corey Brown was outed for eight meetings for causing interference on Lake Como.

Last time? Prince Of Penzance is led out on to the course proper. Picture: Mark Dadswell