Kelinni’s Melbourne Cup Campaign Back On Track After Barrier Trial Win

The 2013 Spring Racing Carnival campaign for Melbourne Cup contender Kelinni is back on track after he won a barrier trial over 1200 meters at Warwick Farm this morning.

Kelinni will return to the races in the Craven Plate at Royal Randwick next Saturday.

Kelinni will return to the races in the Craven Plate at Royal Randwick next Saturday. Photo by: Steve Hart

Kelinni suffered a colic attack last Wednesday that ruled him out of the Group 2 Hill Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick last Saturday but the issue does not appear to have caused the Refuse To Bend gelding any long-lasting damage.

The five-year-old was ridden at the tail of the field by apprentice jockey Luke Dittman, son of Melbourne Cup winner Mick, before finishing strongly with an impressive burst to record a comfortable three lengths victory from Shivoro and Safety Net.

Trainer Chris Waller was happy with the performance and indicated that Kelinni would push on with his spring preparation.

“He went terrific and pulled up well,” Waller told Sky Racing HQ.

Waller said that Kelinni would have his next race start in the Group 3 Craven Plate (2000m) at Royal Randwick on October 5 before coming to Melbourne for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 19 and the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 2.

While the news was all good for the connections of Kelinni, the same could not be said for the owners of Beaten Up who has been ruled out of the remainder of the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival with a tendon problem.

The Beat Hollow gelding looked like he was on track for a big campaign, after producing strong performances in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) and Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m), but was found with heat in his tendon last week and scans revealed that he was suffering from a problem.

“He has a tendon problem,” Waller said.

“It is not a serious one so it is better to pull the pin now rather than have a serious problem.

“Unfortunately with tendons you can’t take them lightly and I think that twelve months is the best way to treat them with a gradual buildup.

“That rules him out of the autumn but he will definitely be back for the spring.”

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.