After pulling up slightly lame following a track gallop last week, subsequently having to be ruled out of the Magic Millions Guineas Saturday week, Matthew Smith’s star filly Combat Kitty is being spelled ahead of a possible delayed return during the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival 2012.
Last year’s Magic Millions Classic runner-up Combat Kitty was being prepared to return with a first-up run in the $1 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast on January 14.
Her Warwick Farm-based trainer Smith, however, was forced to shelve Magic Millions plans with the daughter of 1997 Magic Millions Classic winner General Nediym after she pulled up sore following a piece of trackwork last week.
“She has had some leg soreness since her gallop,” Smith said.
“This filly is too valuable to risk so I’ve had to rule her out of the Magic Millions Guineas.”
A winner of two of her eight career starts to date, most recently the Listed Lexus Hybrid Plate (1400m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, Combat Kitty was early favourite in the Magic Millions Guineas odds at Luxbet before her withdrawal.
While Combat Kitty was able to pull through a marred Magic Millions lead-up to finish a very brave second to Karuta Queen in the Classic 12 months ago, Smith said there was no chance of her running at this year’s Magic Millions Race Day.
“She had a temperature going into the Magic Millions last season but she got over that and ran really well for second,” he said.
“But we won’t be that lucky this time.”
Combat Kitty is also set to miss out on the entire autumn racing carnival due to her lameness, Smith saying she wouldn’t be returning to the track until the winter.
“She’ll need two months off at least so the autumn carnival is out,” he said.
“I’m pretty conservative so I’ll give her all the time she needs.
“The Brisbane Winter Carnival is a possibility but I won’t be rushing her back if she isn’t ready.
“She’s going to develop into a very good horse and we want to look after her.”
The first major race day of the 2012 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival will be Doomben’s BTC Cup meeting on Saturday May 12, the $400,000 Group 1 BTC Cup (1200m) won last year by undefeated superstar Black Caviar.
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