Dealt With replaced in NZB Kiwi
Just days out from the inaugural running of the NZ$3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), slot holders Kerri Spence Bloodstock and Clotworthy Racing have been forced to find another contender following the withdrawal of the Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained Dealt With (Ace High).
The son of Ace High (High Chaparral) he has been ruled out of the southern hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race after he pulled up sore following trackwork on Saturday.
“He galloped on Saturday and we haven’t completely gotten to the bottom of exactly what happened. At this stage we are thinking he has probably pulled a muscle high up in a hind limb,” Wellwood said.
“The vets are going to come for further diagnostics. We don’t think it is going to be a major long-term [injury], but it is something that means we are unable to get to the race.”
Wellwood said it is disappointing for all concerned, but the welfare of the horse comes first.
“It is absolutely gut-wrenching,” he said. “It is such a high-profile race and we were so excited to have him in there for the ownership group and ourselves. His form looked to put him right there with a winning chance. It’s hard to take, but the reality of it is that the horse comes first.”
The co-trainers elected to replace Dealt With with stablemate Zormella (Almanzor), who had previously just missed out on securing another slot in the race.
The three-year-old filly, who is raced by RNZ Frac Club 1 and Surf Coast Racing, has had just two starts to date, breaking through for her maiden win in impressive fashion over 1400 metres at Pukekohe last month.
“Fortunately, we had a filly [Zormella] we had just missed out on another slot with,” Wellwood said. “She looks high quality and we are very lucky that the slot-holders have chosen us. There were a number of options they were going through and have clearly decided that filly fits the bill.”