Light Fantastic 將唔會跑覺士盾
Mick Price has abandoned Cox Plate plans for Australian Guineas winner Light Fantastic with his spring campaign now resting on the result of tests this week.
The grey shocked his supporters when he was the first horse under pressure in Saturday's Group One Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield and dropped out to finish 12th of the 13 runners to Weekend Hussler.
Price said there was nothing obviously wrong with the four-year-old who would have a scintigraphy diagnostic test to isolate any hidden issues.
"He has pulled up all right," Price said.
"We are eliminating things one by one but he scoped up cleanly on Saturday night and he trotted and cantered this morning and was sound."
Price said Light Fantastic had shown he wasn't a 2000-metre horse and should the gelding's medical tests be all clear he could be freshened for races up to 1600 metres.
"We won't be paying up for the Cox Plate," Price said. "I can't see the point in that.
"We are getting to the point when we are thinking he just doesn't get 2000 metres.
"He doesn't appreciate getting trained for it and it looks like he is a sprinting horse."
Price said Light Fantastic's spring was on hold until tests cleared him.
"I am not going to waste my time looking for races until I know for sure," Price said.
Light Fantastic was unbeaten after five runs until two starts ago when he finished a disappointing fourth to Weekend Hussler in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) leading in to Saturday's Underwood failure.
Price had four serious Cox Plate candidates before this week but he said only Pompeii Ruler, who ran a gallant second in the Underwood, and Alamosa would be paid up on Tuesday as second acceptors for the weight-for-age feature.
He said former New Zealander Dorabella, who was being aimed at the Cox Plate would now be aimed at the feature races for mares.
Price said Pompeii Ruler, who is prominent in Caulfield Cup markets, got galloped on in the Underwood but had recovered well.
He said Pompeii Ruler was still improving after a suspensory injury sidelined him last season and that he would have his next run in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on October 4.
"He is going well and he is on the up with his race fitness," Price said.
Price said Alamosa, who has finished within two lengths of the winner at his three spring runs, would deviate from weight-for-age after his last start sixth in the Dato'Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley.
His next run will be the Toorak Hcp (1600m) at Caulfield on October 11 before the Cox Plate on October 25.
Price said Dorabella ran well from wide gate to finish seventh in Saturday's Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) but the Cox Plate looked too rich for her.
"She will be kept to mares company as she needs some Australian Group wins on board," Price said.
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