Just days out from the inaugural running of the $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 Dealt With (NZ).
The son of Ace High looked to be among the race’s leading contenders, having won his first two starts before placing in the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m).
Trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood felt there was plenty of improvement left in the gelding, but he has been ruled out of the Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race after he pulled up sore following track work on Saturday.
“He has 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, 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.”
A silver lining for the Cambridge barn is that the slot holders have elected to replace Dealt With with stablemate Zormella (NZ), who had previously just missed out on securing another slot in the race.
The daughter of Almanzor, 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 1400m 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.
“It is bittersweet to have another one in there.”
While the Slot Holders share Wellwood’s disappointment in losing the services of Dealt With for the NZB Kiwi, they believe they have found a suitable replacement in Zormella.
“It is sad news (withdrawal of Dealt With). I feel for the trainers and owners,” Slot Holder representative Shaun Clotworthy said. “The horse looked like he had a lot of potential and looked like a real chance in the NZB Kiwi.
“Roger and Robert have been happy with her (Zormella) and she won nicely the other day. She looks like a progressive horse, with a nice action, and being an Almanzor we hold no fears getting up to the 1500m.
“We have relied a lot on Roger and Robert’s opinion of her, and they have quite a high opinion of her. She lacks a bit of ringcraft with only have a couple of starts, but we think she has got potential, and Roger thinks she has potential.
“We had to make a decision pretty quickly. It’s a bit frustrating, but that is horse racing, and we all know what it’s like with horses, they can be sound one day and unsound the next.”