Meeska Mooska
Race Images Palmerston North
Progressive stayer Meeska Mooska is on the mend after a series of untimely setbacks.
The son of El Hermano strode through the grades with four consecutive wins through the autumn and winter before he was unplaced on the middle day of the Hawke's Bay carnival.
"We did a blood test after he got home and it showed he had an infection," said Graham Thomas, who prepares the six-year-old with Nick Smith. "He was very flat so we gave him a week off.
"We ran another blood and it was perfect, but he was still flat so we put him out again for another week and then he got an ulcer in his eye."
Meeska Mooska was understandably feeling somewhat sorry for himself, but he is now making a steady recovery.
"The vet has been out three times a day and the horse wasn't a happy chap, he was a bit grumpy and you can't have blamed him," Thomas said.
"It does explain why he went so average at his last run – even half an hour before the race I rang my wife and said we're in trouble, he's too quiet.
"It was right out of character for him, but he's a lot better now than he was. It's a hiccup and not a major issue. Hopefully he will be back on track for races like the Counties, Avondale and Waikato Cups."
Meeska Mooska has fashioned the tidy record of six wins from 19 appearances and his latest success on the opening day of the Hastings carnival came at the expense of the recent Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders' Stakes winner Underthemoonlight. – NZ Racing Desk.
The son of El Hermano strode through the grades with four consecutive wins through the autumn and winter before he was unplaced on the middle day of the Hawke's Bay carnival.
"We did a blood test after he got home and it showed he had an infection," said Graham Thomas, who prepares the six-year-old with Nick Smith. "He was very flat so we gave him a week off.
"We ran another blood and it was perfect, but he was still flat so we put him out again for another week and then he got an ulcer in his eye."
Meeska Mooska was understandably feeling somewhat sorry for himself, but he is now making a steady recovery.
"The vet has been out three times a day and the horse wasn't a happy chap, he was a bit grumpy and you can't have blamed him," Thomas said.
"It does explain why he went so average at his last run – even half an hour before the race I rang my wife and said we're in trouble, he's too quiet.
"It was right out of character for him, but he's a lot better now than he was. It's a hiccup and not a major issue. Hopefully he will be back on track for races like the Counties, Avondale and Waikato Cups."
Meeska Mooska has fashioned the tidy record of six wins from 19 appearances and his latest success on the opening day of the Hastings carnival came at the expense of the recent Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders' Stakes winner Underthemoonlight. – NZ Racing Desk.