Duretto in Cup doubt
Duretto (GB) (Manduro {Ger}) is the latest international to be placed in doubt for the G1 Melbourne Cup after pulling up lame following a gallop on Saturday.
Racing Victoria stewards said Duretto would undergo a bone scan on Tuesday after he was reported to have lameness in his left foreleg.
English trainer Andrew Balding has been informed of the setback for the 7-year-old, who ran fourth in the G1 Caulfield Cup.
’The results of the scan will assist Mr Balding, in consultation with his veterinarians and RV veterinarians, to determine whether Duretto is in a suitable condition to be a final acceptor for next week’s $7.3 million Melbourne Cup (3200m)," a Racing Victoria release said.
‘’Duretto is currently restricted to box rest at the WIHC and will remain so until Tuesday’s test is conducted."
Benbatl heads home
Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire)} will return home to Dubai and won’t contest the G1 Emirates McKinnon S. at Flemington.
Trainer Saeed Bin Suroor confirmed on Sunday that the G1 Cox Plate runner-up, who won the G1 Caulfield S., would head back to be prepared for the Dubai carnival.
‘’I think he wants a break now. He has won a Group 1 and finished second in the Cox Plate. He has had two hard races."
‘’We will take him back to Dubai and run him there in January or February in preparation for another crack at the Dubai Turf in March."
‘’We are proud of Benbatl and how he has run. He was brave in finishing second to a mare, who is one of the all-time greats."
‘’I don’t think our horse handled the track but he has run well and I am pleased he has come out of the race OK.’’
Second winner for Better Than Ready
The Toby Edmonds trained Betaima became Lyndhurst Stud's Better Than Ready's second 2-year-old winner of the season with a 4.75L win in a 1000m maiden race at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.
Ridden by Jeff Lloyd, Betaima, having her second start, blitzed the field and joined recent Doomben winner The Odyssey as winners from Better Than Ready's first crop.
She was a $62,500 Magic Millions buy and is the second foal of Naima (Lonhro) who is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Diamond I Am (Catbird).
Better Than Ready
Coming days crucial for Kings Will Dream
Kings Will Dream (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}) faces a crucial few days after being diagnosed with a fractured pelvis after being pulled up in Saturday's Cox Plate.
Managing owner Brad Spicer has confirmed Kings Will Dream “sustained a pelvic fracture and ruptured a blood vessel” before jockey John Allen eased him out of the race after leaving the straight the first time.
The 5-year-old was taken to Ballarat Vet Clinic where Spicer said blood vessel 'clotted overnight' but the next three days are 'critical' for his survival.
Kings Will Dream
Yearn delivers anniversary gift
Yearn (NZ) (Savabeel) gifted her trainer Karen Fursdon a 34th wedding anniversary present with her win at Ellerslie on Saturday.
The 5-year-old made it win number six from 21 starts with her third success at Ellerslie on a special day for her trainer.
“Kevin and I got married 34 years ago on Cox Plate day, the day that Red Anchor won,” Fursdon said. “I guess you couldn’t ask for a better gift than a win, especially as it paid for a night in Auckland to celebrate.”
Fursdon believes there is a big-race victory in the mare’s future and will sit down with owner Mark Lupton to target her at a race.
“As long as she comes through the race well we can start to look at her options now,” she said.
“She is a valuable mare, being by Savabeel from a nice family, so the priority will be to enhance that value with some black type."
“I think she is capable of getting a mile if there is a true pace and she can relax so there are some nice options around."
