Racing Victoria vets will examine Lucia Valentina this afternoon to decide whether she is allowed to run in the 2014 Turnbull Stakes, but trainer Kris Lees is confident that the talented mare is at full fitness for the Group 1 event at Flemington.
Lucia Valentina will have to pass a vet exam to run in the 2014 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Lees informed stewards yesterday that a small abscess had burst on Lucia Valentina’s offside front foot on Wednesday, which led to her missing trackwork on Thursday, and Racing Victoria vet Grace Forbes found that the four-year-old was two out of five lames yesterday afternoon.
Forbes will examine Lucia Valentina again this afternoon, but Lees told Sky Racing HQ that he is confident that the Vinery Stud Stakes winner will be passed fit to run in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) tomorrow.
“Wednesday afternoon she just had a little bit of heat in her foot and a slight pulse, so we poulticed her overnight and took her shoe off,” Lees said.
“It responded well to that and because of that we didn’t gallop her on Thursday and she had a light canter around the grass and she came through it quiet well, but I thought it was relevant to tell the stewards to keep everyone informed.
“She had a canter again and she was very free in her action.
“They sent a vet in yesterday afternoon and they want to have another look at her today.
“I think that she will be fine, but I think that it is relevant to everyone that she didn’t work yesterday.
“She is a lightly framed filly and she is clean winded, so I don’t think that it will make much difference to her.
“She wouldn’t have done much and I don’t think it is that relevant.
“I am expecting the all clear this afternoon.”
Despite the injury concern, Lucia Valentina remains favourite in 2014 Turnbull Stakes betting markets and she is available at a quote of $5.50 to record her second win at the highest level of racing.
Lucia Valentina returned to racing with a fast-finishing victory in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on September 6 and produced impressive closing sectionals when sixth behind Sacred Falls in the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on September 20.
The Savabeel mare is expected to head to the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) after running in the Turnbull Stakes this weekend and is available at odds of $10 to win the Group 1 event at Caulfield on October 18.
