Beaten Blue Diamond Stakes favourite Fontiton has emerged from the Group One race with an injury which will require surgery.
The filly will have two bone chips removed from her off-fore fetlock but trainer Robert Smerdon says the surgery and recovery time will not impact on spring plans.
“The prognosis is very good and the time she needs to convalesce will coincide with the time she would have been spelling,” Smerdon said.
Smerdon trained the quinella in Saturday’s Group One Oakleigh Plate on Saturday with Shamal Wind defeating Under The Louvre, but the $1 million Blue Diamond Stakes did not go to script.
The previously unbeaten Fontiton finished fifth in the race won by Pride Of Dubai.
Smerdon said he would be meeting with the owners of Shamal Wind later on Monday to talk about where they head with the sprinting mare.
The trainer will be trying to win another Group One on Saturday when three-year-old filly Fontein Ruby backs up in the Australian Guineas at Flemington with Chad Schofield to ride.
The winner of the Group Two Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) and Group Three Caulfield Classic (2000m) during the spring, Fontein Ruby has been placed in her two starts this campaign.
After her third to Sabatini in the Kevin Hayes Stakes first-up, Fontein Ruby was beaten a length by the same filly in Saturday’s Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Smerdon said Fontein Ruby had come through the run well.
“Nothing worries her,” he said.
“She’s on the up each run and this suits her better getting to Flemington over the mile but she’s taking on the colts.
“She should be on the improve, anyway.”
