Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg runner-up Wow will miss the Group 2 Maitland Gold Cup after being scratched from tonight’s heats early this morning.
Wow was quoted at prohibitive odds to win his heat tonight, with some suggesting the Maitland track record held by the Darryl Thomas-trained La Grand Quality might be under some serious threat during the series.
But trainer Danielle Matic was forced to scratch the superstar dog after it was revealed late yesterday when she had the dog checked out, that he was suffering a small injury to his right front sesamoid tendon.
“They found a small injury to his right front sesamoid tendon, and advised us not to run Wow, as further damage could result in him dislocating a toe,” Danielle revealed on Thursday morning.
“There is no swelling or lameness and he should be fine in 2 or 3 weeks.
“We think it was probably the reason he ran so wide down the back and in the home straight in last Saturday’s (Final of the Golden Easter) Egg.”
Wow stalked the leader, and eventual winner Tommy Shelby into the back straight but then raced very wide up the track down the back, and again, after moving close to the leader turning for home, Wow again swung very wide down the home straight, allowing Tommy Shelby to get away for a 1½ length win.
The Maitland Cup kicks off with five heats tonight and the scratching of Wow has opened up the Group 2 feature, with Easter Egg finalist Zipping Kyrgios, and Ambrosoli placegetter Zulu Warlord, now two of the hardest to beat.
