Second favourite Egg Tart’s chances of running in Saturday’s Group 1 $1m Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick are still in doubt because of an eye injury.
Egg Tart, above in red and green colours, is still in doubt to take her place in the Epsom Handicap at Randwick. Photo by Jenny Barnes.
The Chris Waller trained Egg Tart is having her injured near side eye treated and will have a final vet’s inspection on Friday afternoon to determine if she takes her place in the field.
Egg Tart has been treated with anti-inflammatories and antibiotics for an eye irritation since her last start second to Deploy in the Group 2 $200,000 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on September 9.
Racing New South Wales Racing NSW Senior Official Veterinarian Dr Craig Suann inspected Egg Tart earlier in the week and deemed her unfit to start on Saturday and Racing New South Wales vet Dr Tania Selig also failed to give the Sebring mare the all clear today for the weekend.
While Dr Tania Selig and Waller’s stable vet Dr Ross Alexander both agreed that Egg Tart’s eye was on the mend slowly, it would find it hard to fully recover in time now that the medication has to be stopped in the lead up to to race day.
“Dr Suann will inspect Egg Tart tomorrow morning to gauge if there is any improvement with the eye and a final decision as to whether the mare takes her place in the Epsom Handicap will be made during a final inspection on Friday afternoon,” Racing New South Wales released in a statement today.”
Melbourne Cup winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy has been booked to ride Egg Tart who has drawn the inside barrier in the fourteen horse Epsom Handicap field.
The Dual Oaks winner is coming off a first up second to Deploy in the Theo Marks Stakes and is marked as the second favourite at $6 for the Epsom Handicap at Ladbrokes.com.au.
The Pat Webster trained Happy Clapper with Blake Shinn booked to ride, is the solid $3.10 favourite following excellent lead up form that saw him with a first up win in the Group 2 $200,000 Tattersalls Club Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on September 2 followed by a brave second to Winx in the Group 1 $500,000 Colgate Optic White Stakes (George Main Stakes) (1600m) at Randwick a fortnight later.
