Classy mare Samaready has been sent to the spelling paddock after slicing the skin off her near front fetlock.
Samaready has not scored a race win since she took out the Manikato Stakes in dominant fashion during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Samaready was set to head to Adelaide for a tilt at both the Group 1 Robert Sangster Classic (1200m) at Morphettville on April 26 and the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 10, but has been sent to the Vinery Stud spelling paddock after suffering the mishap while in the paddock for a freshen up following her defeat in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on March 21.
“We going to run in the fillies and mares Group 1 in Adelaide on the 26th of April and we gave her a little bit of a freshen, but somehow she managed to slice the skin on her near front fetlock,” Price told Sky Racing HQ this morning.
“It was a full thickness of skin and no more damage than that, but we put three stitches in it and they don’t heal properly those things.
“It was going to be messy, so it is off to Vinery in New South Wales for some nice green grass and get her ready for the spring.”
Samaready returned to the races, after almost a year on the sidelines due to injury, during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival and started her campaign with a win in the Group 3 Theshark.com.au Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 31 before recording a dominant win in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 27.
The More Than Ready mare was sent to the spelling paddock after having respiratory issues during the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 25 and started her autumn preparation with a promising third in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on February 15.
Samaready was well-backed in the lead-up to the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m), but failed to show her usual turn-of-foot and could only battle home to finish sixth behind stablemate Lankan Rupee and faded to finish towards the tail of the field after leading early in the William Reid Stakes.
There was speculation that Samaready would be retired to serve as a broodmare at the end of her autumn campaign, but Price gave every indication that the two-time Group 1 winner would return to racing during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival.
