Trainer Kris Lees’ well performed mare Invincible Gem is out for the remainder of the Spring Carnival and will miss running in the Group 1 $1m Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on September 30.
Invincible Gem, above, is out of the Epsom Handicap after suffering a severe bout of colic. Photo by Steve Hart.
Invincible Gem had to undergo surgery for a severe bout of colic on Monday and Lees notified Racing New South Wales Stewards that the I Am Invincible mare won’t be competing for the remainder of the 2017 Spring Carnival.
Racing New South Wales released the following statement this morning.
“Trainer Kris Lees has advised Racing NSW Stewards this morning that Invincible Gem underwent surgery for colic on Monday 18 September 2017. As a result, Invincible Gem will take no further part in the 2017 Sydney Spring Carnival.”
Invincible Gem was one of six horses that Lees had nominated for the Epsom Handicap with the stable flagbearer Le Romain heading up the rest of the entries, Sense Of Occasion, Sound Proposition, Double Dream and Skylight Glow.
Invincible Gem was also nominated for the Group 1 $3m Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 28.
The 2017 Sydney Autumn Carnival saw Invincible Gem move into the spotlight with a win in the Group 3 $150,000 Trainer Connections Spring Stakes (1600m) at Randwick and followed that up with a head second to Inference in the Group 1 $1m Girvan Waugh Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Randwick.
The mare resumed for the Spring in dynamic form with a first up win over her stablemate Le Romain in the Group 2 $200,000 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on August 5 and then ran third behind Epsom Handicap favourite Happy Clapper and Tom Melbourne in the Group 2 $200,000 Tattersalls Club Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on September 2.
Happy Clapper has since finished second to Winx in the Group 1 $500,000 Colgate Optic White Stakes (George Main Stakes) (1600m) at Randwick last Saturday.
Early Epsom Handicap betting at Ladbrokes.com.au has the Pat Webster trained Happy Clapper at the top of the market order at $4.60 ahead of the Chris Waller’s dual Oaks winner Egg Tart at $5.
As usual Waller has a strong representation in the Epsom Handicap and provides the next six horses in the betting, Comin’ Through, Foxplay and Tom Melbourne at $11, Macintosh and McCreery at $15 and Dawn Wall at $17.
