Outstanding five-year-old gelding Superstorm, a Group 1 winner of the Cantala Stakes (1600m) at Flemington last October, has been ruled out of the Melbourne spring carnival.
Perth owner-breeder Bob Peters, who confirmed the news on Tabradio, said it was a disappointing outcome as Superstorm was displaying encouraging signs before his setback.
“Superstorm won’t be competing at this carnival,” Peters said.
“He’s coming home and arrives today, I think.
“He has a couple of problems we have to sort out.
“I was looking forward to him over this carnival because he was coming on well.
“It looks like he will have to undergo a wind operation and he has a splint problem.
“He might have to have a screw in that or something.
“Hopefully both things can be done at the same time.”
In better news for Peters and trainer Danny O’Brien, Western Empire and Regal Power are close to their respective returns.
“We are starting to get ready for the races coming up,” Peters said.
“I’d say the first one that will start is Regal Power in the P.B.Lawrence Stakes (1400m).
“We might keep Western Empire for the Memsie which is a couple of weeks later.”
Regal Power is back in Melbourne for a third preparation after winning the All Star Mile (1600m) for Grant and Alana Williams two years ago.
The Pierro gelding transferred to Danny O’Brien after winning the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) and Ted Van Heemst Stakes (2100m) last December.
Western Empire, to make his maiden Melbourne campaign, set Ascot alight by winning the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) – Asian Beau Stakes (1400m) double before going down as hot favourite to Regal Power in the Kingston Town Classic (1800m).
The Group 2 Lawrence Stakes and Group 1 Memsie Stakes are staged at Caulfield on August 13 and 27 respectively.
