Trainer Darren Weir has confirmed that Lake Sententia will have her next race start in either the Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m) at Caulfield on Saturday or the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) next Sunday.
Lake Sententia could step up to 2400 metres for the first time in the Zipping Classic at Caulfield on Saturday. Photo by: Jenny Barnes
Lake Sententia was included in the nominations for the Zipping Classic despite failing to fire in the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Emirates Stakes Day.
The California Dane mare started the race as favourite but finished seventh behind Girl Gone Rockin’, after being blocked for a run on a number of occasions during the race, and had a slower than normal recovery after the race.
Weir told TVN that a veterinary examination conducted after the race did find a minor abnormality but he said that five-year-old mare had recovered well in the past 24 hours and remains a chance to step up to 2400 metres for the first time in her racing career this weekend.
“They think she might have burst a small blood vessel because there was a bit of blood around when they scoped her, but she seems fine,” Weir said.
“She is really well in herself so I’m not really sure what to do with her.
“She’ll either back-up on Saturday or we’ll wait for the Ballarat Cup.”
Lake Sententia finished her autumn campaign with back-to-back wins in the Listed Centaurea Stakes (2009m) at Morphettville and the City Jeep Handicap (2040m) at Moonee Valley but failed to find her best form during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival.
She started her campaign with a ninth place finish over an unsuitable distance in the Group 3 Sportingbet Sprint (1200m) at Caulfield before producing a promising fourth place finish in the Group 2 Blazer Stakes (1410m) at Flemington a fortnight later.
The Listed winner had no luck when she was caught wide for the majority of the Group 3 Eliza Park International Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Day and could not play a part in the finish of the Matriarch Stakes on Saturday.
Weir started the spring with a bang but has not had much luck in recent weeks; with his stable star Puissance De Lune ruled out of the Melbourne Cup after being diagnosed with a tendon injury after finishing a disappointing 12th place finish in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m).
The Shamardal enitre’s racing career remains in doubt but Weir said that the operation was a success and he remains hopeful that the imported stayer will return to the track and win an elusive Group 1 event.
“I’m not sure exactly what they did but his tendon was operated on last Thursday, it went well, and he’s gone out to the spelling paddock now,” Weir said.
“I do think we’ll get him back; it wasn’t that serious an injury.
“All he needs now is rest and rehabilitation.”
