NEWS PREVIEW

NZ Briefs for 30th October 2020

Oceanex given all clear; Waller hoping to bag home track spoils; Carston pays tribute to Ridley; Johnson to miss 2000 Guineas

Oceanex given all clear

Kiwi-bred mare Oceanex has been given the green light to continue onto the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) on Tuesday.

The daughter of Ocean Park had undergone a veterinary inspection on Thursday morning where Racing Victoria's chief vet Dr Grace Forbes, along with co-trainer Mick Price and stable vet David Shepherd, were not happy with her action.

Oceanex subsequently underwent a change in shoeing in a bid to relieve pressure on her heels, and the alteration has resulted in a drastic improvement.

"We just put a three-quarter shoe on her, took some of that pain away from her heel. Within half an hour of the farrier being there, she was perfect," Michael Kent who trains the mare in partneship with Price, told Racing.com.

"She worked this (Friday) morning as normal and she trotted up perfectly, so (we're) very happy.

"We have just taken the pressure out of the right side of the heel. It's the same shoe she wears normally, it's just cut off at the end."

Waller hoping to bag home track spoils

Leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller is hoping he can secure his home track's biggest prize on Saturday when he lines-up Subpoenaed in the A$7.5 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill.

The daughter of Rip Van Winkle won the Gr.2 Golden Pendant (1400m) at the Sydney track two starts back before disappointing in the Silver Eagle (1300m) at Randwick when finishing sixth.

Waller is looking forward to returning to Rosehill with the four-year-old but he said the rain-affected track is an unknown factor for his mare.

"She was a little bit disappointing in her last run but her form suggests she is better at Rosehill and she is also better when she gets a bit more room," Waller said.

"We will be hoping that she can get out from barrier two and that she can cope with the conditions on Saturday. It is going to be pretty wet.

"She has got some soft track form and let's hope that can be heavy track form after Saturday."

Subpoenaed was initially trained in New Zealand by Tony Pike for whom she won her only start when raced as Subpoena.

Earlier on the card at Rosehill, Waller will line-up fellow Kiwi-bred Star Of The Seas in the A$1 million Yes Yes Yes Stakes (1300m).

The Ocean Park gelding was impressive earlier in his preparation when finishing runner-up behind compatriots Verry Elleegant in the Gr.1 Winx Stakes (1400m) and Kolding in the Gr.1 George Main Stakes (1600m).

He subsequently finished unplaced in the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) and Gr.3 Crave Plate (2000m) and Waller is hoping for an improved performance over Saturday's shorter trip.

"James McDonald (jockey) said last start he had some legitimate excuses," Waller said.

"It's a gamble dropping back to a 6 1⁄2 f sprint at this level. That is our concern, but we have got no worries about the wet track, he loves it."

Carston pays tribute to Ridley

Trainer Andrew Carston was thanking the late Neill Ridley following Caitlyn Jay's win in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1400m) at Ashburton on Thursday.

Ridley, who passed away from cancer earlier this month, was the mare's former trainer.

"When Neill got sick, he suggested to her owner Robin Laidlaw that he should send her to me to train," Carston said.

"Neill and I got on really well and I was honored to get her to train and so it was nice to get another win to repay his faith in me.

"He had won a trial with her himself, so he knew that she had ability."

Johnson to miss 2000 Guineas

New Zealand Premiership-leading jockey Danielle Johnson will miss the first day of the New Zealand Cup carnival at Riccarton next month through suspension.

Johnson admitted a breach of careless riding aboard Melodious in the Conaghys Pro-Abamec 1400 at Te Aroha on Wednesday and was subsequently suspended from the conclusion of racing on November 3 to the end of racing on November 10.

As a result, Johnson will miss the ride on the Stephen Marsh-trained Bourbonaire in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m).

He is currently a $6 third-favourite for the three-year-old feature behind Need I Say More ($2.80) and Aegon ($4).


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