Crowd favourite Whobegotyou is out of the spring carnival suffering jarred joints.
Trainer Mark Kavanagh on Thursday declared the six-year-old’s campaign was over and was unsure when or if he would race again.
Whobegotyou was second favourite for Saturday’s Caulfield Stakes.
“He has jarred up in the joints,” Kavanagh said.
“It is unfortunate but we couldn’t race him on Saturday so it is pointless even considering going on towards the Cox Plate.”
Kavanagh was noncommittal about Whobegotyou’s racing future.
“At this stage we would have to see how long he takes to heal up,” Kavanagh said.
“We haven’t scanned the horse.”
Whobegotyou has been plagued with injury in recent preparations and Kavanagh has deliberately spaced his runs to get the best out of him.
He had his campaign cut short last autumn after winning the Group Two Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington but returned in great form in the spring.
He was one of the favourites for the Cox Plate and was $4.60 second favourite behind Lion Tamer for Saturday’s Group One Caulfield Stakes.
His launched his spring campaign in stunning fashion, storming home to win the Group Two PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 13 and was held up for run last start when third to Rekindled Interest and Alcopop in the Group Two Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 10.
Kavanagh paid tribute to Whobegotyou, who has raced 29 times for 10 wins, 10 seconds and four thirds and $3,263,450 in stake earnings.
“He’s done a remarkable job to compete at the top level in four spring carnivals in a row,” Kavanagh said.
“He’s had his share of issues along the way but he’s been an absolute delight.”
A dual Group One winner of the 2008 Caulfield Guineas and 2009 Caulfield Stakes, he was also Group One-placed seven times including in last year’s Cox Plate when third to So You Think and Zipping.
His six Group Two wins include two Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes.
Despite Whobegotyou’s departure, Kavanagh’s hopes of landing a big spring major remain strong with December Draw $2.80 favourite for Saturday week’s Caulfield Cup and Atlantic Jewel $1.70 favourite for next Wednesday’s Group One Thousand Guineas.
AAP TURF
