Equal top weight Flamberge and sprinting machine Our Boy Malachi have both been scratched from the Group 1 $700,000 Banjo Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Our Boy Malachi has been scratched from the Galaxy at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Peter Moody trained Flamberge had drawn the outside barrier off eighteen in the original draw but would have jumped from fourteen when the field was reduced to that size at scratching time on Saturday morning.
While Our Boy Malachi was withdrawn at 4.24pm today, acting on vets advice.
Melbourne jockey Dwayne Dunn had been looking forward to reuniting with the Team Hawkes trained sprinter after having won on him in the Listed $100,000 Starlight Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill during the 2014 Sydney Sumer Carnival.
And the top Melbourne jockey was very keen on his chances of claiming the Group 1 trophy.
The Hawkes Racing Team were forced to withdraw Our Boy Malachi from the Galaxy after he suffered a slight knock to the off fore leg.
But the injury is not expected to hinder the rest of his Autumn Carnival campaign and Team Hawkes intend to trial the seven year old in preparation for the Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 2, the first day of ‘The Championships’.
The scratchings of Flamberge and Our Boy Malachi has opened the door for the first and second emergencies, Pittsburgh Flyer and Griante, to take their place in the field.
Craig Newitt rides Pittsburgh Flyer from barrier four and Craig Williams is aboard Griante who has drawn the rails.
The Lee and Shannon Hope trained Pittsburgh Flyer ran a mighty race first up when beaten less than two lengths when fourth to Flamberge in the Group 1 $500,000 Clamms Seafood Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 27 with Griante a further two lengths away in twelfth spot.
“We thought her (Griante) run in the Oakleigh Plate was so good, admittedly running into a lot of trouble, we thought her chance to win a Group 1 would be in a handicap,” Griante’s trainer David Brideoake told racing.com.
“So (The Galaxy has) been the target.”
“She’s going like she’s never gone before.”
“Once upon a time she was a front-running sort of horse but now she’s a run-on sprinter with a very good turn of foot.
“It’s amazing how they change and mature mentally.”
The Gai Waterhouse trained English heads the market order at $4.20 ahead of Oakleigh Plate runner up Fell Swoop and 2014 Darley Classic winner Terrravista at $5.50 and third emergency Malaguerra at $6.50.
The Galaxy market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.20 English, $5.50 Fell Swoop, Terravista, $6.50 Malaguerra, $12 Shiraz, Bounding, $14 Rebel Dane, Ball Of Muscle, $21 Dothraki, Lumosty, Pittsburgh Flyer, Griante, $26 Boss Lane, $34 Miss Promiscuity, $51 Famous Seamus, Lord Of The Sky.
