'Slow process' as Toast Of New York continues to be assessed for racing return

Connections of Toast Of New York insist there is still no guarantee the former Breeders' Cup Classic runner-up will return to competitive action.Last seen being agonisingly beaten in the 2014 Classic by Bayern for Jamie Osborne, injury forced the UAE Derby winner into early retirement.After his Breeders' Cup run he was bought by Al Shaqab Racing and has been standing at stud in Qatar, but the fledgling breeding industry there is such he has not covered many mares.It emerged last month that Toast Of New York had returned to the UK to be assessed by veterinary staff to see if he could return to racing, but Al Shaqab's racing manager Harry Herbert feels there is a long road ahead. He said: "He's still trundling along. It's a very slow process. "He is still at Longholes Stud being assessed by the Al Shaqab vet, Duncan Moir, and we'll see how we get on."What happens from here is purely down to veterinary advice, but if Duncan is happy, he is likely to go back to Jamie Osborne's, possibly in the next week or two."At this stage it isn't very exciting as it is a long and difficult process bringing a horse back, firstly from the injury he had and then having been let down and covered a few mares."He's still a million miles away from doing any serious exercise."