Mark Kavanagh’s 2011 Cox Plate fancy Whobegotyou has joined a growing list of high-profile withdrawals from the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, the gallant six-year-old to be spelled due to injury.
Whobegotyou has been spelled and won't race again this spring
Six-year-old Street Cry gelding Whobegotyou was accepted to race in the $400,000 Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) on Caulfield Guineas Day this Saturday, but has now been officially scratched leaving a 10-horse field.
Kavanagh made the notification to Racing Victoria stewards this afternoon that Whobegotyou had jarred up in his joints and would not race again this season.
2011 Cox Plate Odds
Futures all-in betting showing top 24 horses.
“He has jarred up in the joints,” Kavanagh said.
“I worked him yesterday and I could tell today he wasn’t his happy self.
“It’s very disappointing, but that’s the way it goes.
“It is unfortunate but we couldn’t race him on Saturday so it is pointless even considering going towards the Cox Plate.”
While devastated to have lost the chance to see Whobegoyou win at the highest level this season, Kavanagh was quick to credit the horse for all they have achieved.
“He’s done a remarkable job to compete at the top level in four spring carnivals in a row,” Kavanagh said.
“He’s had his share of issues along the way but he’s been an absolute delight.”
‘Whobe’ was two runs into his campaign having won the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) first-up at Caulfield on August 13 before his most recent effort when finishing one and three-quarter lengths away third to Rekindled Interest in the Group 2 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 10.
Always a crowd favourite, Whobegotyou’s last unplaced run was in the 2010 Stradbroke Handicap when he finished 11th to dual winner Black Piranha.
They were heading towards a grand final spring goal of running in the $3 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 22.
It would have been Whobegotyou’s third straight Cox Plate attempt following his sixth to So You Think in 2009 when the beaten favourite, and his close third in Australasia’s richest weight-for-age contest last spring, won by So You Think for a second successive year.
Cox Plate 2011 betting at Luxbet had Whobegotyou as the $9.50 fourth favourite and his withdrawal leaves Kavanagh without a contender in the Moonee Valley showcase this year.
With a genuine lack of any weight-for-age performer following Whobegotyou’s withdrawal from the spring, the Cox Plate looks an open affair this year with spruik New Zealander Jimmy Choux the current $4.60 favourite.
In the Luxbet markets for the $400,000 Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) this Saturday, Whobegotyou was the $4.40 second favourite behind another Kiwi galloper Lion Tamer.
Lion Tamer, who is also the early top elect in the futures 2011 Melbourne Cup markets at Luxbet, has since firmed in from $3.70 to $3 at Luxbet to win the Caulfield Stakes on Saturday following Whobegotyou’s scratching.
While Kavanagh won’t be represented in the 2011 Cox Plate, the Flemington-based trainer still has a strong chance of adding a second ‘Loving Trophy’ to his cabinet following Shocking’s win in the Melbourne Cup two years ago.
Kavanagh’s in-form import December Draw is the overwhelming $2.80 favourite to win the $2.5 million Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) Saturday week before tackling the Melbourne Cup 2011 at Flemington on the first Tuesday of November.
Luxbet have December Draw, winner of the Turnbull Stakes last Sunday which took their Australian race record to five wins from six starts, is also well-liked in the markets for the $6.2 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) paying $11.
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