Gun German import Our Ivanhowe will be scratched out of the 2016 Underwood Stakes field after undergoing treatment for a cut on his leg.
A cut to the leg has ruled Our Ivanhowe out of the 2016 Underwood Stakes this Saturday in Melbourne. Photo: Daniel Costello.
The $500,000 Group 1 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m) runs at Caulfield Racecourse as one of two elite level Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival features on Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Day this Saturday.
Pre-scratching the field for the weight-for-age staying showdown sits at 11 final acceptors, but Lee & Anthony Freedman are set to withdraw Doomben Cup winner Our Ivanhowe from the line-up.
Team Freedman informed stewards this week that the horse had suffered a laceration to his near hind leg and would subsequently miss the Underwood Stakes.
Drawn in barrier three with Kerrin McEvoy booked for the ride, Our Ivanhowe is paying $9 in the current Underwood Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Third in last yearâs $3 million Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) behind Mongolian Khan, the now seven-year-old Soldier Hollow stallion enjoyed a top level win in the winter in Brisbane taking out the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on May 21.
He has had just the one run since when finishing four lengths away fifth to Palentino in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) first-up at Flemington on September 10.
His new second-up target will now be the $500,000 Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington Racecourse on Sunday October 2.
Co-trainer Lee Freedman has prepared a record six previous Turnbull Stakes winners: Super Impose (1989), Naturalism (1992), Doriemus (1996), Marble Halls (1997), Makybe Diva (2005) and Sphenophyta (2006).
The beaten Makybe Diva Stakes favourite from a fortnight ago was the Darren Weir-trained Black Heart Bart who crossed a length away second to his winning stablemate in the mile showdown.
The Blackfriars six-year-old races again in the Underwood Stakes and is the firming $2.70 favourite in the latest markets with the raceâs 2008 (Weekend Hussler) winning jockey Brad Rawiller booked for the ride.
Rawiller rode Black Heart Bart to victory in both the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) in Adelaide back in May and the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield this August.
He missed the Makybe Diva Stakes due to suspension, Damien Oliver replacing him in the saddle.
Oliver rides rival Lucia Valentina in the Underwood Stakes this weekend, the Kris Lees-trained mare second-up for the spring.
The Queen Elizabeth Stakes winning daughter of Savabeel was last seen finishing 4.4 lengths away fourth behind Chris Wallerâs champion mare Winx in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) in Sydney on August 20.
Lucia Valentina is the $4 second favourite to take out the Underwood Stakes this weekend in her first Melbourne run since winning the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) on Emirates Stakes Day last November.
Check out the updated Underwood Stakes 2016 odds and offers online now at Ladbrokes.com.au who are matching the first deposits of new players (excluding NSW) up to $500 with use of the code BETBONUS (T&Cs apply).