A horse losing a shoe mid-race isn’t uncommon, but a horse losing two is a little rarer.
Unfortunately for Mitchell Beer, that was the scenario stable star Mnementh found himself in during the running of last month’s Luskin Star Stakes at Scone (1300m).
Heading into the race off an encouraging first-up fourth to Parisal in the Hawkesbury Gold Rush, expectations were high, and Beer said everything appeared to be going to plan in the run.
But as soon as the gelding balanced for home he began going backwards, and Beer knew something had gone awry.
“We were so excited – second-up, wet track, everything was falling into place,” Beer said.
“He ended up in a lovely spot and to the corner, I couldn’t have been happier. Then he came off the bridle pretty quickly and I thought, this isn’t good.
“It turned out he lost both his front shoes after he went about a hundred metres. Sometimes they throw a back shoe and still win, but front shoes are a bit of a necessity.”
That is particularly true for Mnementh, who has battled feet issues throughout his career.
But with a three-week break between runs, some TLC and a fresh batch of footwear, Beer believes the gelding can return to his best in the Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m) on Saturday.
Mnementh has proven himself in similar grade, scoring a stakes win at Flemington in July and claiming the scalp of Front Page in last year’s Wagga Town Plate.
He is also unbeaten in two starts on heavy tracks, conditions he is almost certain to strike at Randwick.
“He pulled up pretty scratchy after his last run, but we’ve worked double time on him and we’ve got him back to the point where we’re really happy with him,” Beer said.
“He’s got different shoes on going into this run, so hopefully we get a better result because if he brings his Hawkesbury run to the heavy track on Saturday, he’s in it up to his ears.”
Beer will also saddle up November Falls in the Midway Handicap (1600m) and like Mnementh, she relishes wet ground.
The four-year-old has been racing consistently and Beer is hoping she can go one better than her last start second to Bakerloo in similar class.
“They’re hard to win these Midways but she presents as a terrific chance,” he said.
“It’s nice to be taking two horses to the races on Saturday and be a live chance with both.”
