Leading juvenile filly Noesis has been ruled out of the major autumn features with a fractured tibia.
The daughter of Exceed And Excel looked a likely type for the Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper Stakes after winning the Listed Inglis Plate (1000m) by three lengths from Dancescape at Flemington at her only start on October 4.
The Leon Corstens-trained filly was to run in the Group Three Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) won by Our Joan Of Arc at Flemington on Derby Day but was scratched with what was thought to be a foot abscess.
However X-rays later revealed the injury to be a fractured tibia.
"She's out of the Blue Diamond and the Golden Slipper," said Corstens' son and stable manager Troy Corstens.
But all is not lost as the Romsey-based stable has 25 two-year-olds in work, three of which have raced.
Choisir colt Starspangledbanner, who won the $250,000 Inglis Juvenile (1000m) at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Day, will be aimed at the big two-year-old races in the New Year.
Of the older brigade, Corstens said three-year-old Saranda had been gelded since the spring carnival and was back in work.
The stable was very enthusiastic about Saranda who looked good winning at his debut over 1000m on a heavy track at Sandown on August 13.
But he failed dismally twice at Group Three level, running 10th to Aichi in the Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington and last to stablemate Fernandina in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m).
"Hopefully gelding him will help him return to the form we thought he was capable of," Corstens said.
Fernandina, who has won three of his six starts, has been sold to Hong Kong interests but will be retained by the Corstens stable for a few runs.
The Vain Stakes (1100m) and Caulfield Guineas Prelude winner hasn't raced since finishing 11th to Whobegotyou in the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 11.
Corstens said top sprinter Kaphero was back on track after having a chunk taken out of a hoof at his most recent start when fifth to Wilander in the Group Two Schillaci Stakes (1000m) on Guineas Day.
"He'll run first up in the Lightning Stakes," Corstens said.
The five-year-old won a string of races at Moonee Valley including the Group Three McEwen Stakes (1000m) before finishing third in the Group One Manikato Stakes (1200m).
The Group One Lightning Stakes is run over 1000m down the Flemington straight course on January 31.
