Promising three-year-old Matias is out of the Queensland Derby with a leg injury while top sprinter Jedibeel requires throat surgery and won’t race again until later in the year.
The two talented gallopers will be noticeable absentees for the rest of the season at least after showing glimpses of big-race potential during Sydney’s showpiece autumn carnival.
Matias was one of the early favourites for the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m), run at Eagle Farm on May 30, after his impressive win in the Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Royal Randwick two weeks ago.
But trainer Gerald Ryan told Racing And Sports that Matias suffered a minor leg injury at trackwork last Saturday.
“Matias twisted a joint and is going to the paddock,” said Ryan, who trains in partnership with Sterling Alexiou.
“We would have been behind the eight-ball trying to get him ready for the Derby.
“So, we have pulled up stumps, he will have a break and hopefully be back for spring.
“I was devastated when it happened as the horse was coming along so well for Brisbane.”
Jedibeel, who was good enough to run in The Everest last spring, was found to have a throat problem after he ran well below his best and finished at the rear of the field in the The Quokka at Ascot on April 18.
It was an out-of-character run by $2 million earner Jedibeel considering at his previous start he came from last on the turn and stormed through the ruck to just miss reeling in Marhoona in the Group 1 The Galaxy at Rosehill on Golden Slipper Day.
“A month ago Jedibeel nearly wins The Galaxy then three weeks later we are dealing with this,” trainer Brad Widdup said.
“After The Quokka, (jockey) Tyler Schiller told us the horse was making a noise so we had the horse checked by the vets.
“You see some scopes and you think how does the horse even breathe but fortunately it is not that bad with Jedibeel.
“But there is enough there where we have to do something so he will have the throat surgery.
“I’m not sure how long he will have out, he may miss the spring or return later in the year, we will just see how the surgery goes.
“But the horse comes first. Jedibeel has been a great horse for us and I will give him all the time he needs before getting him back to the races.”