Provocative
Kenton Wright Race Images
Talented filly Provocative has been withdrawn from Saturday's Gr.1 $750,000 BMW New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie.
Cambridge trainer Tony Pike reluctantly scratched the Zabeel filly after she showed signs of lameness after her trackwork gallop on Tuesday and had made insufficient progress on Wednesday morning.
"She's got an active splint and pulled up a bit short after trackwork yesterday. She's too good a filly to risk. It's very disappointing," Pike said.
The Mark Wyborn and Robin Peel-Walker-raced Provocative had won two of her four starts leading into the Derby and had been considered a leading chance after her fast-finishing sixth in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) at Ellerslie a fortnight ago.
Leith Innes had been booked to ride Provocative but on Wednesday morning secured the ride on the Danica Guy-trained filly Capella, who was withdrawn from Saturday's Gr.3 McKee Family Sunline Vase (2100m) at Ellerslie in favour of a start in the Derby.
Pike's Derby woes didn't end with Provocative's scratching either.
He seems set to be left without a rider for Gr.2 Waikato Guineas runner-up Raghu after an appeal hearing for Michael McNab's 14-day suspension handed down at Wairoa last Thursday was set for Te Rapa on Thursday.
McNab would need his suspension to be quashed in order to take the Derby ride. – NZ Racing Desk
Cambridge trainer Tony Pike reluctantly scratched the Zabeel filly after she showed signs of lameness after her trackwork gallop on Tuesday and had made insufficient progress on Wednesday morning.
"She's got an active splint and pulled up a bit short after trackwork yesterday. She's too good a filly to risk. It's very disappointing," Pike said.
The Mark Wyborn and Robin Peel-Walker-raced Provocative had won two of her four starts leading into the Derby and had been considered a leading chance after her fast-finishing sixth in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) at Ellerslie a fortnight ago.
Leith Innes had been booked to ride Provocative but on Wednesday morning secured the ride on the Danica Guy-trained filly Capella, who was withdrawn from Saturday's Gr.3 McKee Family Sunline Vase (2100m) at Ellerslie in favour of a start in the Derby.
Pike's Derby woes didn't end with Provocative's scratching either.
He seems set to be left without a rider for Gr.2 Waikato Guineas runner-up Raghu after an appeal hearing for Michael McNab's 14-day suspension handed down at Wairoa last Thursday was set for Te Rapa on Thursday.
McNab would need his suspension to be quashed in order to take the Derby ride. – NZ Racing Desk