Rudy Liefting was in a philosophical mood late this afternoon when he received unfortunate news about his Group Three winner Danza Lad.

"He had some filling in a leg so had I to take him to the vet for a scan and he's out for the year," the Pukekohe Park trainer said. "It's a tear of the flexor tendon."

The winner of 10 races, including the Gr.3 Thompson Handicap, Danza Lad has won twice over fences and was being prepared for a return to that role.

"I was going to run him in the KS Browne Hurdle next Monday and I thought that race was his for the taking, but that's the way it goes," Liefting said.

He will now be looking to stablemate Just Got Home to lift stable spirits when he runs on Queen's Birthday Monday. He is leaning toward the McGregor Grant Steeplechase over the maiden steeplechase.

"I can't really see the point of running a good horse for $10,000, we might as well have a go at the big one," Liefting said.