Classic-winning mare Mosheen has returned to trainer Robert Smerdon’s stable and is likely to recommence her spring preparation on Thursday.
Mosheen underwent surgery on Monday to free her epiglottis which had become trapped by tissue in her throat.
The relatively straightforward procedure was performed without a hitch and Mosheen was her old self by Wednesday morning, Smerdon said.
“The vet said she can trot tomorrow,” Smerdon said.
“They said it was a big help that we found it so early.”
Smerdon won’t decide whether to revise Mosheen’s spring program until he puts her under more pressure.
The original plan was for her to resume racing in the Group Two Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 1 as the first step in her Cox Plate campaign.
Should he need to miss the Memsie, Smerdon said he would look to either the Group Three Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) or the Group Two Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m), both at Flemington on September 8.
Smerdon also revealed the possibility his glamour mare could run in the Group One Toorak Hcp (1600m) on the Caulfield Cup day program.
“It’s not out of the question. I don’t think she’d be too badly treated and it might just work out for her,” he said.
Smerdon also commiserated with fellow trainer Mark Kavanagh over the injury to his star mare Atlantic Jewel who would have opposed Mosheen in the Cox Plate.
“It’s a tragedy. It’s been one of those weeks with Typhoon Tracy’s death and now this,” he said.
The unbeaten Atlantic Jewel suffered a tendon injury only weeks before she was due to begin a program that would have taken in not only the Cox Plate, but possibly a run on the Breeders’ Cup program at Santa Anita in November.