Sentimental favourite Lofty Strike will require a second veterinary examination in order to take his place in the Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield.
Racing Victoria vets on Thursday began an inspection of all 16 two-year-olds engaged in Saturday’s Group 1 race over 1200m and found Lofty Strike presented with lameness in his right foreleg.
RV vets will re-examine Lofty Strike on Friday to determine the colt’s suitability to take his place in the $1.5 million race.
Lofty Strike, who is unbeaten in two starts and was successful in the Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield on February 12, was the $6 second pick for Saturday’s race with TAB before news broke of his lameness issue and has since drifted to $7.
He shares the third line of betting at that quote with Sebonack, a debut winner of the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on February 5, who has firmed from $9.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Jacquinot heads the market at $5 ahead of Revolutionary Miss, also successful in a Blue Diamond Prelude on February 12, who has firmed from $8 into $6.