Guy Walter is sweating on a scratching so handy mare Foxstar can keep her winter campaign on track at Rosehill on Saturday.
The four-year-old is entered for the Riviana Foodservice Handicap (1350m) but is second emergency for the benchmark 90 contest.
The scratching of Break Card has Foxstar one step closer to gaining a start.
“I can’t believe she’s second emergency,” Walter said.
“It’s disappointing because she was going to run on Saturday and then in the Winter Stakes in three weeks but she won’t be doing that if she doesn’t run tomorrow.
“It can’t be helped but I’m just surprised a mare of her quality can’t get a run in a winter race.”
The winner of four of her 12 starts, the daughter of Galileo won three straight races in the latter part of last year and Walter was even considering a start in the Group Two Villiers (1600m) in December.
“In the end she had a slight temperature so we decided to spell her,” Walter said.
Foxstar returned with a second to My Vegas over 1200m at Rosehill on June 4 and Walter expects the mare to make her presence felt if she can gain a start on Saturday.
Walter will still be well represented at Rosehill with promising three-year-old filly Brightest to shoot for her fourth straight victory in the Chiko Handicap (1400m).
Brightest has been freshened since scoring a narrow win over 1400m on a heavy track at Randwick four weeks ago.
Walter was going to test the daughter of Galileo over 1800m two weeks ago but decided to withdraw her on race morning due to a heavy track rating.
“I think the 1400 metres tomorrow will be nice for her,” Walter said.
“She probably wants a bit further than that but being on the fresh side it should suit her.
“She’s on the way up. I’m a little concerned the rail is out eight metres and she’s drawn a touch awkwardly. She’ll just need a little bit of luck but I do think she’ll run well.”
The astute trainer also has three runners in the McCain Sweet Potato Fries Handicap and said it was hard to split Isola, Outofafrika and Clam Chowder.
AAP TURF
