The scratching of the Lindsay Park trained Enbihaar from the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday has allowed her stablemate Qafila to gain a start in the world’s richest two year race.
Enbihaar, above, has been withdrawn from the 2018 Golden Slipper at Rosehill. Photo by Jenny Barnes.
Enbihaar was scratched after blood samples taken from the filly this morning verified that she had elevated muscle enzymes which caused her to ‘tie up’ after completing her track work on Thursday morning.
Racing New South Wales released the following statement explaining the circumstances around that led to the filly’s withdrawal.
“Please be advised that Racing NSW Stewards have approved the withdrawal of Enbihaar from the Longines Golden Slipper on veterinary advice.
“Following the Hayes stable advising the filly had tied-up, a blood sample for health assessment was collected this morning with the permission of the Stewards.
“The results of the blood sample revealed elevated muscle enzymes and accordingly, permission has been granted for the filly to be withdrawn.”
Enbihaar had drawn barrier fifteen in the original draw of sixteen plus three emergencies so her withdrawal won’t change the majority of the barriers for the remainder of the field.
Lindsay Park head trained David Hayes was expecting Enbihaar to run a mighty race in the Golden Slipper after finishing second to Written By in the Group 1 $1.5m Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 24.
“She tied up on Thursday and we took a second blood today (Friday) and it’s still not right, so we’ve taken her out. They don’t run well if they are tied up on the Thursday,” Hayes told racing.com.
“We’re going to adjust things to get her right and probably produce her in the Percy Sykes (Randwick on April 7).
“It’s a shame because that Blue Diamond form was looking good but Qafila also ran a blinder in the Blue Diamond and I thought her run in the Black Opal (fourth) was terrific.
“She’s got up here and thrived and I’m certain she’s going to run better than her odds ($71) suggest.”
Qafila had drawn barrier ten in the original draw with Craig Williams booked to ride and the Not A Single Doubt filly is rated as one of the outsiders of the field at $61 at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Qafila has had two unplaced runs in the lead up to the Golden Slipper for a seventh to Written By in the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes followed by a fourth to Encryption in the Group 3 $300,000 John McGrath Auto Group Black Opal Stakes (1200m) at Canberra on March 11.
The Lindsay Park Team of David and Ben Hayes and Ton Dabernig will also saddle up $61 outsider Long Leaf in the Golden Slipper.
The Tony McEvoy trained Sunlight remains at the top of the market order at $4.20 ahead of the Blue Diamond Stakes winner Written By at $5 and Damien Oliver’s mount Seabrook at $9.50.
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