Champion stayer Poco Dorado has been scratched from Saturday night’s Group 2 Summer Distance Plate at Wentworth Park, throwing the event wide open.
“She ripped the back inside pad off last Saturday night,” Minnie Finn, wife of trainer John said on Thursday. “We noticed she came out on Sunday morning and was limping and had a look at it and the pad was off.
“It’s very disappointing, and frustrating. She was swabbed yesterday and when the steward was here we said that if she’s not right, she’s not starting. And that’s what has happened.
“I think if the race was Sunday or Monday, then she would be right to run, but there is no point taking a risk with her.
“It’s a shame because we would have liked to have continued on with her record, but it’s one of those things.”
Poco Dorado would have been looking to extend her incredible record at Wentworth Park in the Summer Distance Plate final. She has won 13 straight Wentworth Park races, and is unbeaten in 11 starts over the Wentworth Park 720m trip.
Minnie said they have been swimming Poco Dorado this week to keep up her fitness and try to heal the injury.
The next target on Poco Dorado’s agenda will be the $75,000 Group 1 Zoom Top at The Meadows on February 16.
The Finns and the owners of Poco Dorado the Dee and Pee Syndicate, will still have two representatives in the Summer Distance Plate, with Poco Dorado’s littermates Blue Moon Rising and Veloce Nero both engaged in the staying final on Saturday.
