Queensland Oaks winner Quintessential wasn’t among the final acceptors when they were taken this morning for the Group 1 $2.65m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Queensland Oaks winner Quintessential not to run in the Caulfield Cup. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Kiwi trainer John Sargent made the decision to retire the mare after a below par work out at Flemington this morning when easily beaten buy rival Kiwi mare Silent Achiever.
New Zealand bloodstock agent Adrian Clark was quick to send out the message on twitter, saying the Fast ‘N’ Famous mare would be going to be served by Fastnet Rock this Spring.
“Quintessential has been retired – sound and healthy but won’t run in Caulfield Cup – booked to Fastnet Rock,” tweeted Clark.
The withdrawal of Quintessential has left the last and eighteenth spot for the Caulfield Cup a contest between the Gai Waterhouse trained Julienas and the English stayer Forgotten Voice, under the care of Lambourn trainer Nicky Henderson.
The Melbourne Racing Club will have the final say of the make-up of their flagship race, with the final field being released this afternoon.
Quintessential won over $750,000 in prizemoney with six wins from twenty-five starts, including a victory in the 2012 Group 1 $400,000 XXXX Gold Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm.
Quintessential joins other high profile mares to miss the Spring Carnival with multiple Group 1 winner Yosei also being retired while the Guy Walter trained Appearance will miss the rest of the Spring Carnival and be targeted at races in the Autumn.
The Peter Moody trained Manighar will carry the topweight of 58kgs in the Caulfield Cup with the weights being raised 1.5kgs after the Robert Hickmott trained pair of Green Moon, 58kg in the original weights and Sea Moon, 57kgs, weren’t among the final acceptors.
Fawkner is the only runner left for Lloyd Williams and Hickmott while Craig Williams will be trying to make it three Caulfield Cups in a row when he partners the English galloper Dandino for Newmarket trainer Marco Botti.
Williams took out the 2011 Cup on the Leon Macdonald trained Southern Speed then last year brought the 2011 Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden from last on the home turn to beat Alcopop and Lights Of Heaven.
Leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller has accepted with four runners, Hawkspur, Royal Descent, Moriarty and Kelinni.
Queensland Derby winner Hawkspur heads the market order at $4 with Royal Descent sharing the second line of betting at $7 with Dandino with Silent Achiever marked a $8 chance with Glen Boss to ride.
Moriarty is well down in the market order at $26 while Kelinni is one of the roughies in the field at $67.
