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Julius on the comeback trail

Exciting galloper Julius was retired last year after a scan revealed he had a hole in his near fore tendon, but the John Bell-trained gelding is now on the comeback trail.

The dual Group Three-winning son of Swiss Ace looked to be in imposing form heading into spring last year after running Melody Belle to within a nose in the Gr.2 Lisa Chittick Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa in August.

He was subsequently retired after his third-placing in the Gr.3 Sweyness Stakes (1215m) at Rotorua and Bell said he has thrived on the lush pastures of Te Akau Stud.

“Julius was tearing around Te Akau on 3,000-odd acres and being a real pain, so we brought him back in,” Bell said.

“Veterinary surgeon Paul Fraser did a procedure on both tendons and at this stage he will come back into work in September.”