The next 48 hours are crucial if glamour mare Arcadia Queen extends her campaign after she missed the All-Star Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley on the weekend.
Arcadia Queen suffered a hoof problem earlier in the week and Racing Victoria stewards withdrew her on Saturday morning, just hours before the race, due to lameness.
Favourite before her scratching in the All-Star Mile, Arcadia Queen is an outside chance to contest the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill this week.
Peters has not ruled out Arcadia Queen going to Sydney, but said the Pierro mare will have to pass a thorough examination before any decision is made.
“Sunday morning she was in the paddock bucking her brands off,” Peters told Tabradio.
“We can’t find anything wrong with her and we have been right over her.
“Every joint is cold, her feet are cold in the morning and nothing to indicate any problems at all.
“She’s never had her joint treated in her life, she’s never had problems like that at all.
“The only problem she ever had was that stumble she had in the Golden Eagle and the muscle problems in her back.
“In our opinion we have a very sound animal who is going to be vetted today.
“In some ways I hope we do find something because if we find something we know what we are dealing with.
“If we get through the process today I have asked Grant to organise a really hard gallop tomorrow (Tuesday) and preferably the Sydney way of going.
“Then we can start thinking about what to do in the future.
“At this stage it’s very much in the air, but I would say she is 50-50 to get to Sydney at this stage.”
Arcadia Queen’s All Star Mile scratching compounded a wretched day for the Peters and Williams operation after Kingston Town Champion Truly Great passed away from a suspected snake bite and Mystery Miss had to be euthanized.
The one shining light was Western Empire’s dominant win in the Roberts Stakes (1800m) at Ascot.
A winner of the Lex Piper (1600m) two weeks early, the Iffraaj gelding is the hot $1.70 favourite for next month’s WA Derby (2400m).
“He’s pulling up really well and eating up everything,” Peters said.
“He’s fit and sound and surprising me a bit.
“He was light on early but is handling his races easily.”
Written by Julio Santarelli
Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au