THE Gurkha is making a good recovery following successful emergency colon surgery last weekend, according to a Coolmore Stud spokesperson. Although the horse’s racing career remains in the balance, his stud prospects have not been affected.

Trained by Aidan O’Brien, The Gurkha (by Galileo out of Danehill Dancer’s juvenile group-winning daughter Chintz) won this season’s Poule d’Essai des Poulains at Deauville by over five lengths and, more recently, the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood. In between he was a slightly unlucky second in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and appeared to be outstayed when second in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.