Slot holder Max Whitby will be looking for a new runner to fill his slot for the $13m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 13 after Menari was ruled out for the Spring with a tendon injury.
Menari, above, has been ruled out of The Everest due to a tendon injury. Photo by Steve Hart.
Trainer Gerald Ryan notified Racing New South Wales Stewards this morning that Menrai had injured his near fore tendon, ruling him out for the Everest Carnival and could lead to the Snitzel stallion facing early retirement.
Racing NSW released the following statement this morning:
“Trainer Gerald Ryan has reported to Racing NSW Stewards this morning that Menari has sustained an injury to its near fore tendon and will not race during the Sydney Spring Carnival which includes The Everest to be conducted at Randwick on Saturday, 13 October 2018.
“Mr Ryan advised that given the nature of the injury, connections will now give consideration to retiring the stallion.”
The withdrawal off Menari from The Everest now leaves three slots available and jockey James McDonald, who was booked to ride the brilliant son of Snitzel, will now be available to be snapped up by one of the other slot holders.
Menari hadn’t raced since finishing third as favourite to his stablemate Trapeze Artist in the Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill last September during the 2017 Sydney Spring Carnival and was on the comeback trail following a throat operation to help his breathing.
Trapeze Artist will run for slot holder Aquis in The Everest and has been installed as the $4.50 favourite with Ladbrokes.com.au just ahead of last year’s winner Redzel, the Darren Weir trained Nature Strip and last Saturday’s Bletchingly Stakes winner Vega Magic at $6 while Menari was rated a $10 chance before his withdrawal.
Confirmed runners for the 2018 The Everest: Trapeze Artist (Aquis, slot holder), In Her Time (TAB), Redzel (Yulong Investments), Brave Smash (Chris Waller Racing), Shoals (The Star), English (Damion Flower), Santa Ana Lane (Inglis) and U S Navy Flag (Coolmore), Vega Magic (James Harron), three remaining slots yet to be filled.
Early betting for the 2018 The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.50 Trapeze Artist, $6 Redzel, Nature Strip, Vega Magic, $9 Kementari, $11 U S Navy Flag, In Her Time, Santa Ana Lane, $15 Shoals, Brave Smash, $21 English, $26 Happy Clapper, $31 She Will Reign, $41 Winx, $61 or better the rest.
