Two time Group 1 winner and race favourite Trust In A Gust is out of today’s Group 2 $200,000 Schweppes Crystal Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley because of a hoof injury.
Trust In A Gust is a late scratching from the Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley because of a hoof injury. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Trainer Darren Weir was forced to scratch Trust In A Gust when he appeared to be lame in a race morning inspection at his Ballarat stables today.
“It is unfortunate but it will take only a couple of days to get over it and it won’t interrupt his spring program too much,” Weir old Radio Sport National.
Weir is hoping that Trust In A Gust, who is listed as a late scratching after coming out after the 7.30am deadline, will respond to treatment and make a speedy recovery to be fit for the Group 1 $1m Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 8.
“It’s just a little hiccup, he went for a trot and he wasn’t trotting up properly,” Weir said.
“It is a bit disappointing for the owners but to be honest about it, I don’t think anyone can be complaining, they’ve had a great ride.
“We’ll just monitor what happens over the next few days, if it’s only a foot it won’t set him back much.”
Trust In A Gust was the clear cut $2.20 favourite for the Crystal Mile before he was withdrawn after wins in the Group 1 $400,000 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 28 and the Group 1 $400,000 David Jones NBCF Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on October 11.
The Colin Scott trained Speediness is the now the new favourite at $3.20 in a revamped market order at Ladbrokes.com.au that also sees Hooked from the John Thompson stable come into $3.90 ahead of Akavoroun at $5.50 and Bull Point at $6.50.
Speediness showed that he was on the way back to his best form with an eye catching second to Trust In A Gust in the Toorak Handicap and looks the one to beat today.
Mr O’Ceirin was also a late scratching from the Group 2 $250,000 Racing.com Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) after trainer Ciaron Maher forgot to scratch the seven year old by the deadline.
Other scratchings on Cox Plate Day on a Good 3 track are Race 1: 10 Pearl Star, 11 Perfect Beat. Race 2: 3 Esprit De Bullet, 12 Inspector. Race 4: Alcobro. Race 7: 6 Duccio, 8 Gouldian, 14 Miss Interiors.
