Trish Dunell
The responsibility of retaining Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand Oaks (2400m) title now rests with Marcellina and Milseain.
The Cambridge trainers, who produced Bonneval to win last season’s edition, had Lily The Pink in contention until injury forced her late scratching from the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) at New Plymouth.
“She’s fractured a splint bone in her hind leg, although it’s not quite as bad as it sounds,” Forsman said.
“She’ll have two weeks in the box and then a couple of weeks on the water walker before we go again.”
A daughter of Makfi, Lily The Pink has won one of her four starts and two runs back she finished fourth in the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) on Boxing Day before running sixth in the Gr.2 Royal Stakes (2000m) on New Year’s Day.