The Stradbroke Handicap lost one of its leading contenders on the eve of the $3 million Group 1 following the scratching of Kimochi.
Retirement is now likely for the Gary Portelli-trained mare, who suffered a tendon injury after a freak mishap following light exercise at trackwork on Friday morning.
The four-year-old was officially ruled out by Racing Queensland stewards when conducting their regular feature-race pre-inspections.
Last year’s Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes winner, who also placed three times at the highest level as a three-year-old, will spend her post-racing days at Yulong, which paid $2.2 million for her at last year’s Chairman’s Sale.
The daughter of Brave Smash, who finished fourth in last Saturday’s Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup, was considered one of the biggest threats to Lindsay Park gelding War Machine, who is now $3.10 favourite for the 1400m event.
Kimochi became the second mare scratched from the Stradbroke, following Thursday’s withdrawal of Firestorm, who will run in the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes on the Eagle Farm undercard, and paves the way for second emergency Transatlantic to take his place in the race.
That Tony Gollan-trained four-year-old, a $14 chance, is on the back-up after a convincing win in the Listed Spear Chief Handicap at Eagle Farm and will carry just 51kg with Angela Jones to ride.
