Desleigh Forster’s Australian Oaks hopes have been dashed with Meadow to miss the Sydney classic and possibly the Queensland Oaks after being sent for a break with a mystery problem.
Her trainer pulled the pin on her campaign after she was beaten a long way at Doomben on Wednesday after also being well beaten first-up at Eagle Farm two weeks ago.
Forster said she was at a loss to explain Meadow’s loss of form after she showed a great deal in her first campaign.
“At first we thought she might have had a pelvis injury. But that doesn’t seem to be the case. She has gone back out again for a break and hopefully we can find what is wrong with her,” Forster said.
She said the Australian Oaks was off the table but the Queensland Oaks was a still a possibility.
“It all depends on what we can find. We have four months to the Queensland Oaks but if she isn’t ready we can give her a good long spell,” Forster said.
Stablemate Cylinder Beach is set to resume over 1350m at Doomben on Saturday before heading to Sydney for the Group One Queen Elizabeth Stakes and a date with superstar Winx.
“He had a good break and he has had a couple of solid hit-outs since. The 1350 metres will suit him perfectly at this stage,” she said.
“Someone has to run against Winx and I think he will prove up to the class.”
Another stablemate, Too Good To Refuse, will head straight to Sydney after finishing second in his comeback run at Eagle Farm over 1200m on Saturday.
Too Good to Refuse, who is being set for the Group One Doncaster Mile, was run off his legs by Upstart Pride but ran home faster than any other runner.
“He is looking for 1400 to 1600 metres now. He will go straight to Sydney where there are better training facilities,” Forster said.
Dual Group One placegetter I’m Belucci will go with Too Good To Refuse but will probably not have a start.
“We can’t use the pool at Eagle Farm at the moment so it will be good to get to Sydney where we can have proper training facilities,” she said.
