Top Melbourne filly Samaready’s Spring campaign has become uncertain after trainer Mick Price ordered a complete vet check when the Blue Diamond winner appeared lethargic before track work this morning.

Samaready

Samaready will undergo a complete vet check after appearing lethargic. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Price will wait for the results of blood tests on his Group 1 winning filly before continuing with a Spring campaign and Saturday’s Group 3 $150,000 HDF McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield is looking very doubtful.

Samaready was due to gallop this morning but Price limited her work to a trot and canter after the filly failed to eat up last night and clearly wasn’t looking herself.

If Price doesn’t send Samaready around at Caulfield on Saturday, there is little chance the three year old will travel to Sydney for the Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on September 15.

“I honestly don’t know if there is anything wrong, or if there is, what is wrong with her,” Price said.

“We have had her vetted but we’ll know more once the blood tests come back, which will probably be tomorrow morning.”

“At this stage, there has to be some doubt of her running on Saturday.”

“By extension, there has to be a doubt about her going to the Golden Rose if she doesn’t run on Saturday.”

“I can’t see it being a massive problem, but I wanted to give her one run before the Golden Rose and it wouldn’t be practical to do that a week before the race.”

Samaready failed to handle the heavy track when a struggling fourth at her first run back from a spell in the Listed $120,000 Lister Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 18.

Price had planned to go Sydney for the Golden Rose and then return to Melbourne for the Group 1 $500,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 17.

The Golden Rose has lost some of its glamour runners in the last couple of days with Gai Waterhouse’s two year old Triple Crown winner Pierro being announced a non-runner and will head to Melbourne after Saturday’s Group 3 $125,000 The Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill.

And last Saturday’s impressive Warwick Farm winner Nechita is unlikely to clash with owner Nathan Tinkler’s other top three year old All Too Hard who heads the market order at $2.80.

Samaready showed her class in the Autumn with a three lengths victory in the Group 1 $1m Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 25 before heading to Sydney and finishing a game third to Pierro in the Group 1 $3.5m AAMI Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 7.

With Samaready very doubtful to take her place in the McNeil on Saturday, the Waterhouse trained Kabayan has emerged as one of the main chances.

Leading Melbourne jockey Luke Nolen has taken the ride on the three year old who is being sent to Melbourne to avoid a clash with stable mate Pierro in the Run To The Rose at Rosehill.

Kabayan jumped to prominence quickly in the winter and after winning a Wyong maiden, Waterhouse took the then two year old to Brisbane and was narrowly beaten by Sizzling in the Group 1 $500,000 Patinack Farm T J Smith (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 9.

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.