In Her Time is in doubt to chase a third Group 1 triumph in the $2.5 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday week.
The mare (a $15 on TAB fixed odds) was to have contested a 1000m barrier trial at Gosford today en route to the feature sprint on the opening day of The Championships, but immediate plans are up in the air.
In Her Time (Corey Brown) – troubled by a foot issue. Image by Steve Hart Photographics
“In Her Time has a foot issue, and we are treating it,” her trainer Kris Lees said on Monday afternoon.
“She won’t trial at Gosford in the morning, and a TJ Smith start is unlikely.
“She has been nominated for the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin at the end of April, and the Brisbane winter carnival is also approaching.
“But we’ll just have to see how she progresses before determining any immediate plans.”
In Her Time clinched her second Group 1 victory when resuming in the wfa Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on February 16 before finishing a gutsy sixth to Sunlight in the Group 1 VRC Newmarket Handicap (1200m) there on March 9.
After a maiden success at racing’s elite level in The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 24 last year, she then was a luckless third to Trapeze Artist and dual The Everest winner Redzel a fortnight later in the TJ Smith Stakes.
Immediate plans for stablemate Graff are also up in the air following his failure in The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill last Saturday.
“Both he and Gem Song didn’t handle the heavy track in their respective races,” Lees said.
“It was hard work out there on a very testing track, and Graff was pretty distressed after the race.
“That may be it in regard to his current campaign, but we are yet to make a final decision.”
Gem Song was never comfortable in the Listed Darby Munro Stakes (1200m) but battled away to finish fifth (beaten 6.2 lengths) to Victorian visitor Krone.
The three-year-old’s next start is likely to be at Randwick on April 13 (Day 2 of The Championships) against his own age in either the $1m Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint (1200m) or Listed South Pacific Classic (1400m).
