Update:
Jukebox has been scratched from the 2017 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes due to lameness.
Racing Victoria announced this morning that there veterinary stewards thought that Jukebox was showing signs of lameness, but Ciaron Maher did not have any issues with the unbeaten colt.
Jukebox was inspected again this afternoon and Racing Victoria Chief Stewart Terry Bailey announced that the son of Snitzel had been removed from the Blue Diamond Stakes field.
“After further inspection by two RV vets and one expert independent vet that specialises in lameness – the stewards ordered the withdrawal of Jukebox at 5.25pm on their advice.”
Catchy ($4.80) remains on top of 2017 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes betting markets from Pariah ($6), Tulip ($7) and Formality ($7.50).
Top fancy Jukebox is in doubt to run in the Group 1 $1.5m Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday after showing signs of lameness in the near fore leg when vet checked his morning.
Jukebox, above, is in doubt to run in the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Racing Victoria’s chief steward Terry Bailey said that the Ciaron Maher trained Jukebox will have to be vetted again on Friday afternoon before being passed fit to run in the glamour two year old race.
“Our two Racing Victoria vets are routinely going through the runners for the Blue Diamond,” Bailey told RSN’s Racing Ahead.
“They are not satisfied with Jukebox at the present moment with his action, particularly with his near fore.”
“We have had a long conversation with Mr Maher.”
“In fairness to the connections our vets are going to have another look at Jukebox this afternoon.”
Maher doesn’t agree with the vet’s finding and told them that was Jukebox’s normal action and he was fine, but the Snitzel colt will still have to be cleared to run by the Racing Victoria vets.
“His (Ciaron Maher) view is that it is his normal action for the horse so that is the dilemma we have at the moment,” Bailey said.
“He said that the action is normal, the same as his last two runs but obviously we vet these horses in such a big race and our vets aren’t happy with its action. That is our position at the moment.”
Jukebox has been to the races on two occasions for two wins and after scoring on debut in an 1100m Geelong 2yo Maiden on January 12 went on to score a two lengths win the Restricted Listed $250,000 Inglis Premier (1200m) at Caulfield on February 4.
Craig Williams was aboard Jukebox for his two wins and the colt was under consideration as his Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes ride but after he chose to stick with the undefeated Lindsay Park trained filly Catchy, Luke Nolen was able to pick up the mount.
If Jukebox is not cleared to run in the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes he will join the Tony McEvoy trained Azazel and Clinton McDonald’s Spoils on the sidelines after both youngsters were scratched on Thursday which has allowed the only emergency Sheer Madness to take his place in the field.
Jukebox is currently listed as an $8 chance for the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes with Ladbrokes.com.au who have Catchy on top of a congested market order at $5.
On the second line of betting at $6 is the Team Snowden trained Pariah just ahead of the favourite’s stablemate Tulip at $6.50 and Property and Formality who are sharing the next line at $7.50.
