Everest slot-holders look for back-up plans as Tulloch Lodge pair lame
Two slot-holders for The Everest were scrambling trying to do back-up deals for the $13 million race after the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained pair Invincible Star and English were found to be lame on Monday.
Invincible Star, which was in the GPI racing slot, was found to be three in five lame in her off-fore leg after she dropped out and ran second last in the Premiere Stakes at Randwick on Saturday. English, which had Damion Flower’s slot, was found to be one in five lame in her near fore leg after a raceday jump-out on the Kensington track at Randwick on Monday.
Both slot holders had discussions with connections of other horses on Monday but had not officially declared they would be changing to another sprinter.
Moir Stakes winner Viddora was the main target after she had missed out on the ATC slot, which appears certain to go to Godolphin’s Home Of The Brave. Le Romain and even Moir placegetter Spright could also come under consideration.
Viddora could have a spot in the field as early as Tuesday with the owners of the two-time group 1 winner close to signing a deal.
Tulloch Lodge was putting on a brave face but it appears English and Invincible Star would need to make remarkable recoveries to run in The Everest at Randwick on October 13.
Stewards advised Bott at Randwick that English would need to have a veterinary clearance to run in The Everest after she didn't appreciate the firm Kensington track.
Stewards interviewed Bott in relation to Invincible Star and requested the treatment records for the mare. Bott told them his stable vet Leanne Begg would inspect Invincible Star on Tuesday morning.
Stewards asked Bott to include Racing NSW vet Toby Koenig, who found Invincible Star lame, in discussions on a treatment plan for the mare. Koenig will examine her again later in the week to assess if she would be suitable to start in The Everest.
Meanwhile, Patrick Erin was penalised two kilograms in the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup for his win in the Metropolitan at Randwick on Saturday.
“Patrick Erin is lightly raced for a seven-year-old, and whilst Saturday’s winning margin was narrow, I thought it was a career-best performance and certainly a big step up from his form prior to the release of weights,” Racing Victoria’s Greg Carpenter said.
The penalty lifted the seven-year-old up to 52kg but he still sits well outside the final cut-off in both races.