Trainer Gai Waterhouse will send Cafe Society to the paddock after succumbing to a foot injury, forcing the French import to miss both the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup.
Trainer Gai Waterhouse,above, had to call an end to the Spring campaign of Cafe Society because of injury. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Waterhouse purchased Cafe Society in May after the four year old won at Windsor in England and he entered quarantine in Australia on September 27 to prepare for the Group 1 $3m Crown Golden Ale Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 18 and the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 4.
Cafe Society had been nominated for Saturday’s Group 2 $200,000 Sportingbet Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield to kick off his Spring Carnival but Waterhouse had to call an end to the campaign after the gelding developed some heat in his leg on Tuesday.
“He has a bit of a sore foot and he can’t get ready for the Caulfield Cup or the Melbourne Cup,” Waterhouse Racing.com.
“It won’t heal quickly enough for Caulfield Cup and if he can’t run in the Caulfield Cup he won’t get into the Melbourne Cup.”
“He just couldn’t get ready in time.”
Cafe Society was the winner of three races from twelve starts while under the care of Newmarket trained David Simcock including his latest win at Windsor in the £11,500 Handicap over eleven and half furlongs before Waterhouse purchased the stayer.
Cafe Society then raced under the Waterhouse banner when third in the Listed £70,000 Wolferton Handicap (1 mile, 2 furlongs) at Royal Ascot before being transferred back to Simcock for his remaining two English runs.
At Goodwood Cafe Society finished third in the Group 3 £60,000 Coutts Glorious Stakes (1 mile 4 furlongs) on August 1 then he was beaten just over four lengths when seventh to the Marco Botti trained Seismos in the Group 3 £60,000 Betfred TV Geoffrey Freer Stakes (1 mile 5 ½ furlongs) at Newbury on August 16.
Waterhouse will now send Cafe Society back to her Sydney base on route to the spelling paddock before preparing for the next year’s Autumn Racing Carnival.
Waterhouse still has her hopes alive for the Spring Cups with European imports The Offer and Bonfire still among the entries for the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup.
