Kiwi-bred mare Oceanex has been given the green light to continue onto the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) on Tuesday.
The daughter of Ocean Park had undergone a veterinary inspection on Thursday morning where Racing Victoria’s chief vet Dr Grace Forbes, along with co-trainer Mick Price and stable vet David Shepherd, were not happy with her action.
Oceanex subsequently underwent a change in shoeing in a bid to relieve pressure on her heels, and the alteration has resulted in a drastic improvement.
“We just put a three-quarter shoe on her, took some of that pain away from her heel. Within half an hour of the farrier being there, she was perfect,” Michael Kent Jr, who trains the mare in partneship with Price, told Racing.com.
“She worked this (Friday) morning as normal and she trotted up perfectly, so (we’re) very happy.
“We have just taken the pressure out of the right side of the heel. It’s the same shoe she wears normally, it’s just cut off at the end.”
