Darren Weir’s dual Group 1 winning mare Platelet will be sent to the spelling paddock after a disappointing run in the Group 3 $135,000 TMB Printing Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield last Saturday.
Platelet will be sent for spell after disappointing in the Kevin Heffernan Stakes. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Platelet was sent out the $3.50 favourite but could only manage to beat one runner home when eleventh behind the Mick Price trained Lankan Puree.
Weir said that jockey Michelle Payne reported that Platelet changed stride at the one hundred and fifty metres mark and failed to stretch out after that.
“She seems OK this morning but she changed stride with about 150 metres to go yesterday and it looked like something had gone wrong,” Weir told Racing Victoria yesterday.
“Michelle sort of just eased her down but she seems fine today.”
Weir and Racing Victoria veterinary surgeons couldn’t find anything amiss with the mare after the Kevin Hefferanan Stakes but the Ballarat trainer will send her for break anyway.
Platelet was the centre of controversy last week before the running of the Group 1 $1m VRC Sprint Classic (1200m) at Flemington when it was discovered that she was stabled at Weir’s Ballarat stables, not at his Warrnambool complex as listed in the official stable return.
Because of this mix up, security measures supplied by Racing Victoria were unable to locate Platelet at Ballarat forcing stewards to scratch her from the VRC Sprint and impose a $2000 fine on Weir for not following proper procedures.
Platelet provided Weir and jockey Ben Melham with a Group 1 winning double over the Adelaide Autumn Carnival with wins in the $400,000 Sportingbet Classic (1200m) and the $500,000 The Distinctive Homes Goodwood (1200m), both at Morphettville.
The Strategic mare looked like she was on target for another Group 1 victory after scoring a three quarters of a length win over Spirit Of Boom in the Group 2 $220,000 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 5, but that proved to be her best run of the Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Platelet has been a great earner for connections and has collected over $1 million with eight wins from twenty-three starts.
