Trainer Chris Waller’s well performed Melbourne Cup runner Youngstar is on the mend after having surgery to remove a bone chip from her front fetlock.
Youngstar finished 6th to Cross Counter, above, in the 2018 Melbourne Cup at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Youngstar was the first Australian bred horse to cross the line when sixth to Cross Counter in the 2018 Group 1 $7.3m Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on the first Tuesday in November.
Waller said that Youngstar had pulled up in good order but after undergoing a complete check with x-rays, it was discovered that the High Chaparral mare had a bone chip in her off side front fetlock.
Youngstar subsequently had surgery to remove the bone chip and Waller said that the mare is on the recovery trail.
Waller released the following statement on twitter.
“Following Youngstar’s run in the Melbourne Cup, we had precautionary x-rays taken after she pulled up.”
“A small bone chip was revealed in the right front fetlock which was removed yesterday (Monday).”
“The surgery went smoothly and she is being discharged today (Tuesday). We expect her to take part in the second half of the Autumn Carnival.”
Waller also saddled up the French import Finche to finish fourth in the Melbourne Cup while the stable warhorse Who Shot Thebarman was a well beaten seventeenth.
Waller anticipates that Youngstar will be stayer of the future with that impressive Melbourne Cup result under her belt after she showed glimpses of her staying potential with a win in the Group 1 $500,000 Treasury Brisbane Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben during the 2018 Queensland Winter Racing Carnival.
Youngstar’s other 2018 Spring Carnival results were a second to champion stablemate Winx in the Group 1 $500,000 Seppelt Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 6 followed by a seventh to Best Solution in the Group 1 $5m Stella Artois Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 20.
Early betting for the 2019 Melbourne Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au has Youngstar listed as a $41 chance while this year’s winner Cross Counter is the early favourite at $17.
