Victorian filly Fenway will have to pass a vet’s check before being allowed to start in the Group 1 $1m Seven News Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Fenway, red with white cap, will have to pass a vet’s examination before being allowed to run in the Australian Oaks at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Co-trainers Lee and Shannon Hope notified Racing New South Wales stewards this morning that Fenway had missed an important lead up gallop to the Australian Oaks after she developed a pulse in her near fore hoof and was found to be lame.
Racing NSW then released a statement saying that Fenway would have to be examined by Racing NSW’s senior Veterinarian Dr Craig Suann on Friday to see if the filly will be fit to run on day two of ‘The Championships’.
“Racing NSW Senior Veterinarian, Dr Craig Suann will inspect the filly tomorrow (10th April 2015) at which time Racing NSW Stewards will provide a further update,” the press release stated.
Fenway had been marked as one of the early fancies for the Australian Oaks after downing the short priced favourite First Seal when she won the Group 1 $400,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 28.
The Vinery Stud Stakes victory proved to be a very emotional occasion for winning rider Blake Shinn who was almost brought to tears explaining how the win was suck a great reward for the hard working trainers and their family.
Shannon Hope was on hand at Rosehill but Lee Hope, who is Shinn’s stepfather, had to stay home to look after the stables at Kilmore and miss the filly’s great win.
“The only other person I wish could be here is my step-dad, but unfortunately he had to stay and do the work back at Kilmore,” an emotional Shinn said after the win in the Vinery Stud Stakes.
“I sure he will be really chuffed. He has worked so hard for a result like this and so has Shannon and for me as a twenty-seven year old they have raised me to who I am today.”
“They have worked just as hard as I have. They are great trainers in their own right and this means so much to me. It’s a fairy tale to get the result for them.”
Shinn is booked to ride Fenway again with the High Chaparral filly drawing barrier eight in the thirteen horse Australian Oaks field.
Fenway was to meet several of the fillies who finished behind her in the Vinery Stud Stakes again in the Australian Oaks, including Thunder Lady (3rd), Ballet Suite (4th) and Winx (5th).
The Chris Waller trained Winx is currently heading the Australian Oaks market order at Ladbrokes.com.au at $4.20 ahead of Fenway at $6 and Thunder Lady at $6.50.
Ballet Suite, also from the Waller stable, is next in the betting at $7.50 with the New Zealand Oaks winner Savaria marked at $8.
Australian Oaks market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.20 Winx, $6 Fenway, $6.50 Thunder Lady, $7.50 Ballet Suite, $8 Savaria, $11 Candelara, $15 Gust Of Wind, $16 Adrift, $18 Rustic Melody, Zarzali, $31 Sweet And Speedy, Wine Tales, $151 Wildenstein.
