Caulfield trainer Rick Hore-Lacy will send Clevadude for a spell after the gelding finished down the track in the $2m Jeep Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Clevadude

Clevadude will spell after a disappointing run in the Magic Millions Classic. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Hore-Lacy is considering a three month break for the youngster and thinks he will be right for the Melbourne Spring Carnivalas a three year old.

“We’ll probably give him three months in the paddock and I’d say that’d mean he’d probably race again around July and before you know it you’re into the Spring,” Hore –Lacy said.

Clevadude was sent out the $5 second favourite behind Missy Longstocking ($4.60) but after blowing the start, was always well back in the sixteen horse field and was unable to make up any ground in the straight for Craig Newitt and could only beat two runners home in the 2yo Classic to finish fourteenth behind Real Surreal.

Hore-Lacy and Newitt were confident that Clevadude would be able to use his early speed to cross from a wide alley after leading all the way to score an easy win over 1000m at Moonee Valley the start before but lost all chance when stepping away slowly.

But things went wrong right from the start and as well as not figuring in the finish, Clevadude pulled up suffering from heat stress with Hore-Lacy also detecting some swelling in his near side front joint.

“The horse is fine but he’s going to have to go to the paddock I think, I’m not happy with his near-side joint he’s got a bit of filling in it,” Hore-Lacy said.

“He’s not lame but I was looking for an excuse to put him out anyway so he won’t go on this preparation.

Newitt reported to stewards after the race that after missing the start Clevadude wasn’t at all comfortable on the tight Gold Coast track and as well as not showing his customary speed got on the wrong leg approaching  the first turn.

“The horse was fractious in the barriers and was slow to begin,” Newitt said.

After the weekend’s disappointment, Hore –Lacy said that he would be reluctant to bring another two year old up from Melbourne to the Gold Coast to race in the heat over the Magic Millions Carnival.

“It’s such a tight turning track and you wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t for that race,” he said.

“It’s hot and humid and the horses don’t like it, I’d think twice about bringing a horse up there again from Melbourne.”

Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner Real Surreal will also be sent straight to the paddock but racegoers will probably get a chance to see the Royal Saga filly race during the Brisbane Winter Carnival.

Trainer Kelso Wood has decided to bypass the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 6 with Real Surreal in favour of the Group 1 $500,000 Patinack Farm T J Smith (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 8.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.