Chris Waller’s hard-working but injury-prone galloper Rangirangdoo is set to miss a second successive spring carnival with the champ to be saved for next autumn.
Rangirangdoo will miss the 2011 Spring Carnival and will be saved for the autumn next year
Pentire gelding Rangirangdoo made an emotional return to racing this year after having missed the entire Melbourne and Sydney spring racing season in 2010.
Rangirangdoo was one of the premier middle-distance runners last year, producing two wins and three second place finishes from his five Group race assignments.
After twice placing second at elite level behind Theseo in both the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m), Rangirangdoo hit the big time with his brave Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) win in April of 2010.
Following the Doncaster, however, Rangirangdoo broke down with a grave suspensory injury that nearly saw the end of the champion and was Waller was forced to abandon spring plans with his star.
Spelled for nearly a year, Waller bought the six-year-old back in March with Rangirangdoo running fourth behind More Joyous first-up in the Group 2 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill.
It was champagne and tears for all of the horse’s connections at their next trip out, however, Rangirangdoo becoming a dual Group 1 winner with his outstanding win in the final-stride over Love Conquers All in the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) on Golden Slipper Day.
Tipped to be one of the major drawcards of this year’s Melbourne Spring Carnival, Rangirangdoo will now sit out next season’s features with Waller opting to take care of the horse and give him an extended break before looking to defend his title in the George Ryder in 2012.
“We made the decision with Rangirangdoo that we’re going to miss the spring, he’s going to be ready to go in the early autumn instead,” Waller confirmed.
“I just wasn’t entirely happy with the way his leg was, we’ve had it scanned and it’s been cleared of any issues but there is still a bit of heat there and a bit of remodelling and I’d rather give him a big longer and be careful.”
Rangirangdoo was originally set to contest the prestigious 2011 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in October, but Sydney Training Premiership leader Waller admitted to doubts over the horse being fit enough for the feature.
“Realistically there was only one race that we wanted to win in the spring and that was the Cox Plate and I don’t think he could have handled a Cox Plate preparation,” Waller said.
“So to do that and not get there probably would have ruled out the autumn.
“Just for the sake of one run and probably not getting there, I’d rather make sure we’ve got a full crack at him in the autumn and continue on his winning form.”
This year would have been Rangirangdoo’s first attempt at Cox Plate glory.
Following the 2012 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, where Waller expects to run Rangirangdoo in the Expressway Stakes, Apollo Stakes and then the Group 1 Chipping Norton and George Ryder, he also said he would look at a Brisbane Winter Carnival campaign all going well.
“I’d also love to get him to the Doomben 10,000 next year,” Waller said.
Rangirangdoo has never made an appearance in Queensland.
