The Melbourne Spring Carnival has come to an abrupt end for French galloper Trevieres after fracturing his leg during trackwork at the Werribee International Horse Centre today.
Trevieres during trackwork at the Werribee International Horse Centre. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Trevieres made a huge impression at his first Australian start when second to Solzhenitsyn in the Group 1 $400,000 David Jones NBCF Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on October 12.
The six year old was set to make his second appearance down under in the Group 1 $1m Longines Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday but now could be out of action for a possible twelve months.
Stephanie Nigge, daughter of French trainer Marcus Nigge was devastated when she realised that Trevieres had suffered such a serious injury after completing his morning workout.
New owners Kevin and Colleen Bamford had only recently purchase the six year old after he won the Grand Handicap de Deauville in France over 1600m in August and were looking forward to the rest of the Spring Carnival after his flashing second in the Toorak.
The Robert Heathcote trained Solzhenitsyn, who beat Trevieres in winning his second Toorak Handicap, has been entered for the Mackinnon Stakes which has attracted a hot field of twenty-three nominations.
Heathcote deliberately bypassed the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley last Saturday with Solzhenitsyn but will run into Cox Plate runner up Happy Trails at Flemington if he backs up this week.
“We had paid up initially for the Cox Plate but the owners are very patient. We said let’s get the job done this year, next year we will set him specifically for maybe a Cox Plate,” Heathcote said.
Caulfield Cup winner Fawkner is also among the early nominations on his way to a possible start in the Melbourne Cup along with stablemates Mourayan and Sea Moon.
Leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller is also toying with the idea of running Foreteller in the Group 1 $6.2m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington next Tuesday and will decide after he runs in the Mackinnnon if he lines up in the ‘two miler’.
“I’d say he’s a 95-percent chance of just running in the Mackinnon Stakes but there’s five per cent that he may then back up in the Melbourne Cup,” Waller told TVN.
“The horse is just thriving at the moment.
“He’s really enjoying his racing and I don’t want to simply rule out the Melbourne Cup at this stage.”
