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Connections of smart UK mare My Ambivalent have ruled the Roger Varian-trained galloper out of Saturday’s 2014 Caulfield Cup field due to a stone bruise.
The Authorized five-year-old was one of 41 third acceptors earlier in the month for this year’s $3 million Group 1 Crown Golden Ale Caulfield Cup (2400m), the world’s richest mile and a half handicap running in Melbourne on Saturday.
Last seen running fourth to Thistle Bird in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes (2011m) at The Curragh on June 29, a race she won the previous year, My Ambivalent was set to debut down under in the Caulfield Cup field.
She won’t be one of the soon-to-be-revealed final acceptors however with connections officially withdrawing her from contention on Tuesday morning siting a stone bruise as the reason.
She suffered the set back at the weekend, assistant-trained David Eustace saying that after missing three consecutive day’s work she would not be ready for a shot at the Caulfield Cup.
“We tried to get her out (and work) this morning, and if we were able to do that we would have thought about running Saturday, but missing three day’s work before a Group 1 is too much,” Eustace told RSN’s Racing Ahead.
While the option to spell My Ambivalent for the rest of the season is there, Eustace said the plan was to press ahead and hope the mare could feature later in the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
She also holds a nomination for the $6.2 million Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) on the first Tuesday of November at Flemington for which she pays $67 to win through Ladbrokes.com.au.
Eustace confirmed the 2014 Melbourne Cup target still stood and that getting her fit for the ‘race that stops a nation’ was now their sole focus.
“We’ve had draw stumps (on the Caulfield Cup) and focus on the Melbourne Cup in three weeks,” he said.
“We’re pretty confident we’ll get her out tomorrow. But, obviously, now that there’s no rush we can just take our time little bit. I’d be fairly confident it will be tomorrow and if not the next day.”
On Saturday morning My Ambivalent worked well with her Caulfield Cup booked jockey Hugh Bowman aboard but pulled up with the stone bruise on Sunday.
Eustace remained confident that despite the setback she could run well in next month’s Melbourne Cup, the mare boasting a nice first-up record of two wins and two minor placings from four starts when resuming off a spell.
Her last first-up run was in Dubai back in March this year which produced a third behind the classy Gentildonna in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m), form connections are hoping she can pull out on Melbourne Cup Day.
“If you look at her form, she does run well fresh,” Eustace said.
“She won first time out this year at York and that wouldn’t be a major concern, having to get a prep into her.
“She hasn’t run since July, so that isn’t a major concern. It’s more just wanting to get her cherry ripe for the race.”
With My Ambivalent out, Peter Moody’s Turnbull Stakes runner-up Lidari is confirmed a spot in the starting line-up of the Caulfield Cup this weekend.
Stay tuned to Races.com.au for the official Caulfield Cup field out shortly, the barrier draw to be conducted live from Crown at 5:30pm (local).
In the meantime make sure you’re ready to back your Caulfield Cup selections at the best prices by signing up with Ladbrokes.com.au now, home of the $3 million Megapick this carnival!
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