Va Pensiero To Miss Spring Racing Carnival

Trainer Jason Coyle has revealed that Va Pensiero will miss the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival in order to be given additional time to recover from the tendon injury that he suffered during his autumn preparation.

Va Pensiero scored an upset win in the Sam Domenico Stakes during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival.

Va Pensiero scored an upset win in the Sam Domenico Stakes during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival. Photo by: Steve Hart

Va Pensiero was set to start his autumn campaign in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at March 8, but was ruled out of the race after being found with an elevated temperature and he looked as though he was in for a big preparation when he finished a tough third in the Group 3 McCarten Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 22.

The Stratum colt finished fifth in the Listed Gosford Guineas (1200m) on April 6 and was on track to head to Queensland for the 2014 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival, but he was sent to the spelling paddock after suffering a tendon injury.

Coyle told Racing Ahead that the tendon injury was not particularly serious, but revealed that he would look out for the long-time fitness of the gelding by skipping the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival and saving him for an autumn campaign next year.

“It was a horrible preparation, although he was still able to run two placings,” Coyle said.

“He is still in the paddock at the moment and he is still two or three weeks off returning to the stable and having a two or three week trot and canter to see how the leg holds up.

“We will just give him a soft preparation and hopefully have him back for the autumn.

“The main thing is getting over the tendon.

“Physically he is developing into a really nice horse, but the biggest concern we have is keeping the weight off him, getting him through a preparation and getting him back to the race track.

“It was only minor, but we definitely took all precaution.

“We didn’t want to have him back too quick and we have done everything right by him.

“Like I said, we aren’t even planning to have him back racing for the spring; he will be in and out of the stable, but we are targeting having him back for the autumn.”

Va Pensiero has competed at the highest level of racing since he made his debut in the Listed New South Wales Thoroughbred Breeders Plate (1000m) at Royal Randwick on October 6 and he scored upset wins in both the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) and Group 3 The Run To The Rose (1200m) during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.