One of the top contenders for Saturday’s Blue Diamond Stakes has been pulled out by Racing Victoria stewards due to Bodyguard failing a veterinary examination for the second time on Friday morning.
On Thursday, the RV veterinary team had flagged concerns about the unbeaten colt’s lameness.
Despite an independent vet being involved, Bodyguard’s condition hadn’t improved by Friday’s reassessment.
James Harron, a part-owner who secured the colt for AUD$1.6 million, refrained from commenting directly on the decision.
However, he confirmed that Fearless, another colt owned by the same interests, would still compete in the AUD$2 million Group 1 race.
“The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Bodyguard was reinspected today by a panel of three veterinarians (two from RV and one independent) after displaying signs of lameness yesterday,” the Racing Victoria statement read.
“The colt had not improved and again presented with lameness.
“Accordingly, Bodyguard will be withdrawn from the race by RV Stewards acting on veterinary advice.”
Bodyguard had maintained an impeccable record, winning the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes at Flemington in October and securing victory in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield last start.
With Bodyguard’s withdrawal, the first emergency, In Her Eyes, will now have a chance to participate, representing Leon and Troy Corstens.
RV veterinarians gave the green light to all other Blue Diamond Stakes runners on Thursday, except for Zestiman from Lindsay Park and Kuroyanagi from the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea stable, who underwent their first examinations and were both deemed fit to race on Friday morning.
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