Race day vet test for Rhyno Chaser
Race day vet test for Rhyno Chaser
Friday, 3 October 2008:
Rhyno Chaser will undergo a race day veterinary examination on his injured hoof to determine if he will take his place in Saturday's Group One Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick.
The Kevin Moses-trained colt will have to canter to the satisfaction of Racing NSW veterinarian Craig Suann and chief steward Ray Murrihy to gain a clearance to run in the 2000-metre feature.
Rhyno Chaser was inspected on Friday by Suann and Murrihy said the colt's condition had improved since being examined on Thursday.
"Kevin took the horse to the beach today and the horse appears to be making some improvement but we'll need to see him canter in the morning before we can make a decision," Murrihy said.
Moses advised stewards a nail had pierced the sole of Rhyno Chaser's near-fore hoof following his win in the Dulcify Handicap at Randwick last Saturday.
After sharing Spring Champion Stakes favouritism for most of the week, Rhyno Chaser has drifted to $3.60, leaving Predatory Pricer at the top of the market at $3 with TAB Sportsbet.
The David Payne-trained Naval Escort has already been scratched from the race with a viral infection.
Trainer Paul Murray said Predatory Pricer was in great shape for his Group One debut.
"Everything is spot-on with him and I couldn't be happier with his build-up," Murray said.
Predatory Pricer, who is a half-brother to international sprint star Takeover Target, will be Murray's first Group One runner.
The Street Cry colt stormed home last start to defeat Stalingrad by a neck in the Group Three Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill on September 20.
Prior to that Predatory Pricer rocketed home to defeat Caymans by a long head in the Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m).
Predatory Pricer is tackling 2000 metres for the first time but Murray said the distance would not pose any problems for the colt.
"The way he's been finishing off his races, particularly that last one, there's no doubt that he'll handle this trip," Murray said.
And regular Jockey Glyn Schofield agrees.
"This trip is not going to worry him one bit, he's such a laid-back horse. You can switch him off and he finds that turn of foot," Schofield said.
Murray said the plan was to give Predatory Pricer a spell after Saturday's race and save him for the AJC Australian Derby in the autumn.
His father Bede claimed the 2000-01 Spring Champion Stakes-Derby double with Universal Prince.
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