European import Crackerjack King is out of Cox Plate contention after pulling up sore after Saturday morning trackwork.
Crackerjack King, the grey above finished 3rd to Fortetller, green, gold cap, in the Underwood Stakes, is out of Cox Plate contention because of a leg injury. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Lindsay Park trainer David Hayes has reported that Crackerjack King has been diagnosed with a suspensory ligament injury and is out of the Spring Racing Carnival., including this Saturday’s Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley.
“It’s pretty ordinary, he must have tweaked it in the race and it blew straight up after he worked,” Hayes told Racing Network.
“It is very disappointing as a lot of work went into getting him right. I thought he would have run a good race in the Cox Plate.
“I couldn’t accept with him, it’s not worth it.”
Crackerjack King did most of his early racing in Italy, including a win in the Group 1 €209,000 Premio Presidente Della Repubblica GBI Racig (2000m) at Capannelle in Rome in 2012 and has raced four times in Australia for Hayes and co trainer Tom Dabernig.
The Shamardal seven year old looked like he might become one of the major forces in the Spring Racing Carnival with an eye catching third to Foreteller in the Group 1 $400,000 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 20 after being trapped three and four wide during the run.
The big grey then failed to beat a runner home when twelfth of twelve behind Fawkner in the Group 1 $400,000 Cathay Pacific Caulfield Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 11 after being slow to leave the barriers.
Crackerjack King was also mentioned in the Stewards Report that day as displaying some mid lameness after the race which has flared up again after trackwork on Saturday.
The Robert Hickmott trained Fawkner remains at the top of the market order for the Cox Plate at $4 with Ladbrokes.com.au.
The Aidan O’Brien trained super Irish galloper Adelaide is the second pick at $5.50 just ahead of Chris Waller’s multiple Group 1 winner Sacred Falls at $6, closely followed by Criterion at $8 and last year’s Cox Plate runner-up Happy Trails at $9.
The consistent Royal Descent is also well up in the market order at $11 with super Kiwi mare Silent Achiever at $13 with the front running The Cleaner at $15.
