The Tony Vasil-trained Lucky Secret has been withdrawn from Saturday’s $500,000 Group 2 Player-Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) due to respiratory problems.
The ante-post favourite for the feature at Ascot was due to arrive in Perth today, however Vasil told Perth Racing he was scratching the horse from the race and keeping him at his home stable to avoid travel sickness worsening the six-year-old gelding’s condition.
The David Harrison-trained Waratahs Secret is now heading the betting markets at $3.40 just ahead of Ortensia at $4.60.
If three-year-old Waratahs Secret does claim victory in the Winterbottom, he will be the first three-year-old to do so since Hardrada in 2002, and he will also be securing his fifth successive win.
Vasil said Lucky Secret will be aimed at New Zealand’s January sprint races including the NZ$200,000 Railway Stakes (1200m) on January 1 and the NZ$1million Telegraph Handicap (1200m) on January 23.
