Aborted start to spring racing carnival campaign

McGaw’s spring build-up hit a minor bump when a temperature spike ruled him out of Caulfield’s Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) on Saturday, but connections remain confident the talented colt is on track.

Trained by Emma-Lee and David Browne, the three-year-old will now gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday week before lining up in the Group 3 H D F McNeil Stakes (1200m) on August 30.

“He was just a bit dull on Friday afternoon,” Emma-Lee Browne said.

“It’s unfortunate. It was very minor, and we scoped him after he had a temperature on Friday, and when scoped him there was a tiny bit of mucus.

“We thought if he had run, you get into that mind where you wonder if they have come back well and up to it, but luckily, we found out early.

“It was pretty minor, but we didn’t want to flatten him first-up when he wasn’t 100 per cent, so we’ll take him to Caulfield on the Tuesday before the next meeting.

“A trip away is almost like a jump-out for him as he works himself pretty hard, so we’ll just have to wait a little longer now to see him back.”

Stablemate Basilinna will also step out on the same day in a 2000m handicap. The mare earned her Melbourne Cup (3200m) exemption through her Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m) triumph in March.

Browne said the Cup has been the clear focus all preparation.

“She does prefer to get out over a bit of ground straight away, that seems to keep her happy,” Browne said.

“We’ve programmed in for the Cup to be fifth up, because that seems to be when she has gone very, very well.

“It’s a nice position to be in, but its slightly nerve-racking also.”

Meanwhile, fellow stablemates Scary and Statuario — both Caulfield Cup entries — will likely resume in the So You Think Stakes (1500m) at Moonee Valley on September 6.