UPDATED 3.55PM: Connections of star Western Australian galloper Material Man have encountered a hiccup in their bid for success in the $5-million All-Star Mile.
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The gelding, who is being stabled in Maldon during his Melbourne autumn campaign, is one of three horses declared ‘unsuitable to race at this time’ following compulsory Racing Victoria (RV) pre-race veterinary inspections on Thursday afternoon.
Material Man will face a further vet examination on Friday.
The 2018 Group 2 Perth Cup winner presented with lameness in his left front limb when inspected by two RV veterinarians. Further examinations localised the lameness to the horse’s foot.
The stable notified RV veterinarians that it had concerns with the horse today that required the farrier to attend shortly prior to the veterinary inspection and fit a heart bar on Material Man’s left front foot.
Urban Ruler and Foundry have also been declared unsuitable to race at this time.
The vets’ ruling came little more than 24 hours after Material man impressed in his final track gallop at Bendigo racecourse on Wednesday morning.
EARLIER: Western Australian trainer Justin Warwick’s travelling foreman Pat Keating is confident Material Man has put a few setbacks behind him and declared the stakes-winning gelding on-song for Saturday’s inaugural $5 million All Star Mile at Flemington.
Material Man, the winner of the 2018 Group 2 Perth Cup, has called central Victoria home for the past six weeks.
He has been based with the McKnight family at Oakford Thoroughbred Farm, near Maldon, during his Melbourne campaign, together with another of the Warwick stable’s stars in Quilista.
It has not been all plain sailing for the camp, after Material Man contracted an infection before his unplaced run in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes at Flemington on March 2.
But Keating insisted it was ‘onwards and upwards’ for the gelding after a successful track gallop at Bendigo racecourse, with Courtney Pace in the saddle, on Wednesday.
“He had a high white blood cell count and minor infection after his last race, but we got his blood (sample) done again on Monday and it was all-clear,” Keating said.
“Justin arrived (on Tuesday) and he’s happy with him after watching him work, so it’s onwards and upwards from now.
“Courtney said he felt good on the line – the two horses (Material Man and Quilista) didn’t have to do too much, but we’re confident things are right.”
Material Man, a winner of 14 career starts, including seven at either Group or Listed level, was one of 10 horses to gain entry to the feature race by public vote.
Four more horses, including the two of the top-three in betting – Australian Guineas winner Mystic Journey and Happy Clapper – were later added to the race as wildcard runners.
A bold showing in the All-Star, the world’s richest mile race, would be solace to connections of Material Man, after the disappointment of missing a start in last weekend’s $1.5 million Australian Cup, a race he had been set for before his arrival from Western Australia.
“We’ll take our chances in a $5 million race, Keating said.
“He is going to find it a little bit tough with the weight he’s got to give those three-year old fillies (Mystic Journey and Amphitrite).
“Happy Clapper and Alizee will be hard to beat … Happy Clapper has run second to Winx probably five or six times. There’s no Winx in this field, so he’s definitely going to let them know he’s in it.
“But we will just keep things ticking over with our horse and make sure he’s happy and ready for Saturday.”
Material Man will be ridden by the Warwick’s daughter Lucy, who has partnered the horse in nine of his career wins.
Keating again praised the support of the McKnight family and the Maldon and Bendigo communities during the horses’ stay in central Victoria.
“Everyone was wishing us luck at the track (on Wednesday)… everyone has been great,” he said.
“Everyone was wishing us luck at the track (on Wednesday)… everyone has been great,” he said.
“We will get through Saturday and hopefully things go well and then we will hit the road to Sydney.”
The Doncaster Handicap (1600m) is the likely aim for Material Man at Randwick on April 6, while Quilista, who returns to racing on Saturday at Flemington after a 17-week spell, will target the same two races she won last year when trained by Darren Weir.
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