Gimcrack Stakes victor Bel Merci won’t be seen this spring but trainer John Thompson is hoping another of his two-year-old winners can step up to the plate in her absence.
The Randwick horseman expected Bel Merci to be off the scene until next year after she was struck down by a combination of ailments while spelling.
“She went to the paddock and had a virus and feet issues so she is out for an extended break,” Thompson said.
“She’ll miss the spring.”
While disappointed to lose the stakes-winning filly for the upcoming carnival, Thompson is hoping barn mate Open Secret can continue to raise the bar into her three-year-old season after showing talent at her initial campaign.
The youngster resumes in Saturday’s Keenland September Yearling Sale Handicap (1100m) and has been the subject of early support, backed from an opening quote of $15 into $10.
A winner on debut at Randwick in January, Open Secret had solid form behind some smart two-year-olds, finishing less than two lengths from Rivellino in the Inglis Millennium (1100m) and a similar margin behind Within The Law in the Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m).
Thompson spelled her after she was midfield in the Magic Night Stakes (1200m) and said her recent trials and trackwork indicated she had come back well.
“She won well first-up (last time in) and I think it just took the edge off her,” he said.
“Her next couple of runs, she was obviously up in grade in the Millennium and the fillies’ lead-ins to the Golden Slipper, but she still ran sixth in all of them and she has come back better now.”
The Randwick assignment will be the final chance for this season’s juveniles to get a Saturday grade two-year-old win on the board before the start of the new racing season on August 1.
It has attracted a handy field which includes Pierro Plate winner Shaggy, promising colt Nashville Jack and Nazwah, an impressive winner on debut at Gosford earlier this month.
