It’s A Dundeel will miss Saturday’s Caulfield Stakes and another clash with Atlantic Jewel with trainer Murray Baker losing the battle with a troublesome hoof abscess.
But Baker says the four-year-old remains on target for the Cox Plate on October 26 despite a five-week break between races.
It’s A Dundeel inflicted the first defeat on Atlantic Jewel in the Underwood Stakes with his Caulfield Stakes absence to ensure the mare starts a short-priced favourite to return to the winner’s circle.
Baker said It’s A Dundeel had a beach work-out on Tuesday morning but was still feeling the effects of the abscess which burst a day earlier.
“It burst out yesterday morning and I put a shoe on him yesterday,” Baker told Melbourne’s RSN radio.
“He went to the beach this morning but it’s still a bit tender so he won’t run on Saturday. We dont want to risk it.”
Baker said It’s A Dundeel would return to the track in the next few days and would have a testing jump-out before the Cox Plate as well as work-out at Moonee Valley on the Tuesday before the Cox Plate.
