Big Sky sidelined ahead of Blue Diamond Stakes after vet checks
X-rays taken after a canter workout at Cranbourne have excluded favourite Big Sky from Victoria's leading race for two-year-olds.
Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr's colt had been installed as the top pick for Saturday's Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), but the trainer was displeased with the colt's movement spotted during Friday's session at Cranbourne.
On Thursday morning, Big Sky passed the mandatory pre-race veterinary examination conducted by Racing Victoria, just like the other 20 horses entered.
That approval, though, quickly turned sour for Price in less than 24 hours due to the colt's concerning gait.
"I had a little canter with him this morning and his action is not what it should be," Price told SENTrack.
"We know by looking at the data, on Tuesday morning his stride was a little shorter than it should be, but I was focusing more on knees this morning and we have had them x-rayed.
"There's a little bit of immaturity near front, off-front, there's enough there to say I need a second opinion of what's going on with that knee.
"We think we can see a small little flake of bone in there.
"I'm not sure we need to do, but what I do know is that horse will not be running on Saturday and will be going to the paddock."
According to Price, the prestige of the race—be it a Group 1 juvenile feature or a basic mile maiden—makes no difference; all stable inmates get the same rigorous treatment.
"I wouldn't ask any horse to do anything I wasn't 100 per cent happy with, especially a two-year-old baby," Price said.
"He's very talented, he might be a Group 1 horse as a three-year-old.
"Regardless of anything in the future, he will not run tomorrow, and the information is 'black and white'.
"It is disappointing, but it would be disappointment times ten if I was to run him and get a poor result, number one, and to see him pull-up poorly number two.
"He's a young horse and we need to look after him."
The betting landscape has shifted, promoting Big Sky's barnmate Guest House to $4.60 favouritism, with Unit Five next at $5.50 and Closer To Free at $6.50.
Racing Victoria's post-inspection verdict scratched the Ben, Will and J D Hayes filly Torture from proceedings, while Tony and Calvin McEvoy's Tough Romance earned a green light.
Stretan Ruler, the Phillip Stokes charge and initial standby, was removed Thursday to target the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
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