Trainer Darren Weir says he endured one of his worst days on a racecourse with his two stable stars injured in the Cox Plate.
But he is now looking towards to the Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington and putting the events of Saturday at Moonee Valley behind him.
Humidor, third behind Winx in the Cox Plate, has swelling in a front leg which is expected to rule him out for the remainder of the spring while Kings Will Dream is in the Ballarat veterinary clinic being treat for a pelvic injury.
“It looks like Humidor has got one branch of his suspensory that has got a bit of filling in it so if we stop now I’m sure he’ll be fine.,” Weir said.
“It wasn’t a great race for the stable the Cox Plate.
“It’s probably one of the worst days I’ve had at the races to lose two horses like that.
“Hopefully they make a full recovery.”
Weir said Kings Will Dream would undergo a bone scan to fully understand the extent of damage suffered which caused John Allen to pull him out of Saturday’s race.
“The vets say everything is stabilised and it’s a matter of time now,” Weir said.
Weir is now focused on Saturday’s Victoria Derby and further afield to Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup.
He will run Extra Brut and Savoie in Saturday’s Derby.
“Extra Brut is getting back to Flemington but he did run a bit below par last time at Caulfield but his win before that was really good,” Weir said.
“Savoie ran well at Moonee Valley and deserves his spot in the race.
“The 2500 (metres) is a small question mark but he’s going to present a really, really fit horse.”
Tosen Basil and Red Cardinal are set to represent the stable in the Melbourne Cup with Weir hoping to add another by winning Saturday’s Hotham Handicap.
Weir has entered five horses – Yogi, Gallic Chieftain, Sixties Groove, Azuro and Kellstorm, in the Hotham Handicap.
Kellstorm is not among second declarations for the Melbourne Cup field while Yogi, Gallic Chieftain, Sixties Groove and Azuro need to win on Saturday to earn a ballot exemption.
Weir said Verry Elleegant would take her place in the Wakeful Stakes on Saturday on the way to the VRC Oaks on November 8.
The filly was scratched from the Moonee Valley Vase last Saturday to concentrate on Saturday’s race.
“We would be galloping her over 2000 (metres) in preparation for the Oaks and then she can go back to the beach and have a quiet week,” Weir said.
Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au