Promising three-year-old Matias has been scratched from the Queensland Derby due to a leg injury, while leading sprinter Jedibeel faces throat surgery and will not return to the track until later this year.
These two skilled gallopers will be prominent omissions for at least the rest of the season following promising performances hinting at major-race ability during Sydney’s premier autumn carnival.
Matias had been among the initial favourites for the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m), scheduled at Eagle Farm on May 30, following his strong victory in the Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Royal Randwick a fortnight earlier.
However, trainer Gerald Ryan informed Racing And Sports that Matias picked up a slight leg injury during trackwork last Saturday.
“Matias twisted a joint and is going to the paddock,” said Ryan, who trains in partnership with Sterling Alexiou.
“We would have been behind the eight-ball trying to get him ready for the Derby.
So, we have pulled up stumps, he will have a break and hopefully be back for spring.
I was devastated when it happened as the horse was coming along so well for Brisbane.”
Jedibeel, capable of competing in The Everest last spring, was diagnosed with a throat issue after delivering a subpar effort and ending at the tail of the field in The Quokka at Ascot on April 18.
This was an uncharacteristic performance from the $2 million earner Jedibeel, especially since in his prior outing he surged from last on the bend to nearly catch Marhoona in the Group 1 The Galaxy at Rosehill on Golden Slipper Day.
“A month ago Jedibeel nearly wins The Galaxy then three weeks later we are dealing with this,” trainer Brad Widdup said.
“After The Quokka, (jockey) Tyler Schiller told us the horse was making a noise so we had the horse checked by the vets.
You see some scopes and you think how does the horse even breathe but fortunately it is not that bad with Jedibeel.
But there is enough there where we have to do something so he will have the throat surgery.
I’m not sure how long he will have out, he may miss the spring or return later in the year, we will just see how the surgery goes.
But the horse comes first. Jedibeel has been a great horse for us and I will give him all the time he needs before getting him back to the races.”
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