Master Of Arts out of Queensland Derby

Second favourite Master Of Arts has been scratched from the Group 1 $600,000 Channel 7 Queensland Derby (2200m) at Doomben on Saturday and will be sent straight to the paddock for a spell.

Kiwi three year old Werther is a clear favourite for the Queensland Derby at Doomben. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Kiwi three year old Werther is a clear favourite for the Queensland Derby at Doomben. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Trainer Darren Weir notified Racing Queensland Stewards that Master Of Arts was sore in front and would be spelled immediately.

Master Of Arts withdrawal follows the scratching earlier in the day of the Peter Moody trained Inauguration who will need to have surgery to remove bone chips from his knee.

The revamped market order sees New Zealand three year old Werther staying at the top of the betting at $2.30 with the Moody trained Upham moving into second spot at $8 just ahead of Chris Waller’s Sadler’s Lake at $9.

Master Of Arts had promoted himself to be one of the main chances in the Queensland Derby when he made up plenty of ground in the straight to finish third behind Upham and Redoutable Heart in the Group 3 $150,000 Mullins Lawyers Grand Prix Stakes (2020m) at Doomben on May 23.

At his previous start the Mastercraftsman colt scored a narrow win over 2000m in a three year old handicap at Caulfield on May 2 and booked himself a trip to Queensland for Winter Carnival.

Weir hasn’t had very much luck at this this Carnival and had to abandoned plans to bring his dual Group 1 winner Trust In A Gust north for the major sprint races after the four year old inured himself while being loaded on the plane in Melbourne.

The Andrew Campbell trained Werther earned the top spot at the head of the market order after he accounted for the older horses in winning the Group 2 $250,000 Pages Event Equipment Hire Eagle Farm Cup (2200m) at Doomben last Saturday.

Werther has good New Zealand form which included a win in the Group 2 NZ$100,000 Valachi Downs Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie, Auckland, on April 18 before he headed to Adelaide to run second to the tough Perth filly Delicacy in the Group 1 $500,000 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville on May 9.

Campbell has reported that Werther has pulled up in great order following his win last weekend and had a little blow out on Thursday morning to top him off for this Saturday.

“He has done very well, I am pretty happy with actually,” Campbell told Racing HQ.

“We gave him a bit of work this morning, dashed up the last 600m to take the edge off him a little bit. He was getting a bit full of himself again.”

“He is doing so well up here and that is the reason we gave him that run last Saturday.”

Queensland Derby market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.30 Werther, $8 Upham, $9 Sadler’s Lake, $16 Redoutable Heart, $17 Magicool, $18 Jumbo Prince, Spur On Gold, $19 Worthy Cause, Quick Strike, Thermogenuc, $21 High Midnight, Harry, $31 Chillin With Dylan, $61 Grappa Brandy, $81 Rising Luck, $101 Lucoblu, $151 Allzin.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.