Veteran stayer Forgotten Voice is being treated for travel sickness but is expected to make a full recovery before the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 19.
Forgotten Voice arrived at the International Equine Centre in Werribee with a host of other European-trained 2013 Spring Racing Carnival contenders on Saturday and from all reports is the only horse that has struggled to adjust to his new environment.
Racing Victoria International Recruitment Manager Leigh Jordon said that travel sickness was fairly common for horses that had been on such lengthy trips and reported that veterinaries do not believe it will have a long-term effect on the son of Danehill Dancer.
”We’ve been in touch with everybody connected with the horse back in England,” Jordon told AAP.
“Unfortunately travel sickness can sometimes go hand-in-hand when you are moving horses from one country to another.
”But he should be back as good as gold in a day or so and hopefully connections fulfil their dream of winning a major race in Australia.”
Forgotten Voice has been competitive at the highest level of racing throughout his career but has reached peak form during his nine-year-old season after he started the season competing in hurdle races.
The Nicky Henderson-trained gelding returned to flat racing in June with an impressive victory in the Listed Wolferton Handicap (2011m) during the 2013 Royal Ascot Meeting and earnt himself a trip to Australia with his strong win in the Group 3 Glorious Stakes (2414m) at Goodwood in August.
Forgotten Voice stayed on strongly in the final stages of the race to defeat Lost In The Moment, who finished sixth behind Dunaden in the 2011 edition of the Melbourne Cup (3200m), by half a length.
Connections of Forgotten Voice are hopeful that he can qualify for a run in the Caulfield Cup but he is currently sitting 28th in the order of entry and will need horses above him to pull out of the event to earn a start.
He is in a similar situation for the Melbourne Cup but there are a number of European-based stayers ahead of him in the order of entry that are unlikely to make the trip to Australia.
If Forgotten Voice qualifies for a run in the Caulfield Cup he will be returning to Group 1 level for the first time since he finished 12th behind Twice Over in the 2009 Champion Stakes (2011m) at Newmarket.
