Trainer Darren McAuliffe has given his boom sprinter Clairvoyance a positive update as she recovers from a career-threatening leg injury and illness.
Clairvoyance had surgery in May and her future racing prospects looked slim after she sustained a baffling leg injury at Darreen McAuliffe’s Baldivis stables
In an accident that left McAuliffe and veterinarians puzzled, Clairvoyance is thought to have struck a rail that caused bleeding from her knee and tendon sheaths.
Not long after coming through the operation the bold-striding daughter of Nostradamus copped another serious setback when she suffered a bad dose of colic.
Clairvoyance has not raced since winning the Marjorie Charleson Classic (1200m) at Ascot in April, the victory boosting her record to five wins and a second from six starts.
McAuliffe said he was optimistic of the four-year-old’s racing future.
“She is getting there slowly and putting her weight back on,” McAuliffe told The Races WA.
“Her knee is looking good and she has come out of the colic attack as good as you could hope for.
“She’s happy, bright, eating well and doing all that is expected at this stage.
“In the second week of October I’ll put a saddle on her.
“She’ll probably do five or six weeks and maybe a little bit of evens at the track once or twice.
“She’ll then have three weeks off and then I’ll bring her back for a campaign.
“All going well we are looking at the end of February, but basically she’ll tell me when she is ready.
“It’s positive at the moment, but it’s still a long way off.”
Meanwhile McAuliffe has ruled out a Kalgoorlie campaign for Montelena.
He said the Rubick mare would back up again this week after running a close second to True Attraction in the Amelia Park-Blue Spec Stakes (1600m).
“She won’t be going to Kalgoorlie, the track is too hard,” McAuliffe said.
“She’ll back up in a 2200m race Saturday and then come back for the Ascot carnival.
“Or a most likely option before would be the Northam Cup.”
McAuliffe also said unraced War Chant filly Champagne Dame is set to make her debut after she won a Lark Hill trial on Monday.
The three-year-old commenced quickly for Chloe Azzopardi and was never head in her 950m heat, kicking away to win by two lengths in 57.77sec.
“She was impressive and is ready to go,” McAuliffe said.
“She’s always shown a stack of ability, but lost her way a bit.
“But she is back on track now.”
Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au