Promising gelding Cuanzo has been scratched from the 2014 Western Australian Guineas at Ascot tomorrow due to a severe hind-leg infection.
Jarrad Noske, who rode Black Caviar (pictured) in her first two race starts, is without a ride in the WA Guineas after his mount Cuanzo was scratched. Photo by: Taron Clarke
Cuanzo started his spring preparation with a fourth place finish in the Westspeed Handicap (1000m) at Belmont Park on October 4 before he made his black type racing debut with a third place finish behind Disposition in the Listed Belgravia Stakes (1200m) at Ascot on October 18.
The Oratorio gelding worked home strongly to record the fifth win of his racing career in the Seacorp Handicap (1100m) at Ascot on October 25 and stamped himself as a genuine Western Australian Guineas contender when he finished third behind Disposition in the Listed Fairetha Stakes (1400m) at the same venue on November 8.
Cuanzo had been kept safe by bookmakers in 2014 Western Australian Guineas betting markets, but trainer Eric Wake revealed on Twitter this morning that the three-year-old was unable to contest the race due to a severe hind-leg infection.
The withdrawal of Cuanzo has not changed the 2014 Western Australian Guineas betting market significantly and the undefeated Disposition remains a clear favourite at a quote of $2.30 after recording four wins from as many race starts.
Disposition made his racing debut with a dominant three and a half lengths win in the Provident Financial Services Maiden (1000m) at Northam on September 21 and he took out the Westspeed Handicap (1000m) at Belmont Park on October 1 before he stamped himself as a clear Western Australian Guineas favourite with back-to-back wins in the Listed Belgravia Stakes (1200m) at Ascot on October 18 and the Listed Fairetha Stakes (1400m) at the same venue on November 8.
The best-backed runner in Western Australian Guineas betting markets has been Outlaw Pete and he is into a quote of $5 after opening at $7 when the 2014 Western Australian Guineas field was released earlier in the week.
Outlaw Peter recorded impressive wins at Pinjarra, Belmont Park and Ascot after finishing second on debut at Northam, but he raced greenly in the early stages of the Fairetha Stakes and was blocked for a run in the final stages of the race to finish eighth.
There has been a sprinkling of support for Tonto ($9 into $8), Toppa Dawozza ($101 into $81) and Furious Dame ($11 into $10), while Settlers Creek ($51 out to $81), Delicacy ($11 out to $15), Ideal Image ($13 out to $16) and Keysbrook ($51 out to $61) have all been on the drift.
