Star central Queensland galloper Master Jamie will miss the $300,000 The Jewel after contracting Ross River fever.
Master Jamie has won 11 of his 14 starts and would have been one of the favourites for Saturday’s race.
The Gold Coast had 62mm of rain on Tuesday and more showers are predicted for the week.
Trainer Graeme Green has plotted Master Jamie’s campaign perfectly, giving the gelding a short break after his last-start win at Eagle Farm.
But disaster struck on Wednesday morning when Green checked on the gelding.
“You wouldn’t believe not 10 minutes after I accepted with him his blood count came back and showed he had Ross River fever,” Green said.
“It is a 14-day treatment and then he should be OK. We are now looking at the winter carnival.
“Talk about having bad luck as everything was going so well.”
Ross River fever can affect horses and humans and is usually carried by mosquitoes.
