Mishap sidelines jockey
In-form jockey Peter Knuckey will be sidelined for a week after injuring his neck while riding work at leading trainer Adam Durrant’s Karnup property yesterday.
Knuckey’s racing manager Kyle Nowland said the veteran hoop’s doctor told him to take a week off to allow the bruising to settle.
Knuckey was removed from his five rides at Belmont Park today.
“He has an old injury there and the doctor advised it was best for him to have a week off to let things settle down,” Nowland said.
“It is not ideal, but he should be back next Tuesday.”
Knuckey is fourth on the Perth jockeys’ title with 30 wins.
He partnered Simon Miller pair Regal Gleam and First Among Equals to victory at Belmont last Saturday.
Meanwhile, track specialist Luckygray has drawn perfectly in gate three to continue his dominance of winter racing in Saturday’s $150,000 Group 3 Belmont Sprint (1400m).
The $2.67 million earner jumped from the inside when he nailed Dawn Approach and Fuchsia Bandana in last Saturday week’s Roma Cup (1200m), his first appearance in a year.
Dawn Approach and Fuchsia Bandana have again fared well in barriers seven and five, ensuring a solid pace in the feature, which will be run at weight-for-age for the first time.
Balmont Girl drew the extreme outside in 10 for her first start at Belmont Park.
The four-year-old mare has raced exclusively at Ascot, where she has a record of 22 starts for five wins and nine placings.
Luckygray has won five of his six starts at Belmont, recording a clean sweep of the 2012 Roma Cup, Belmont Sprint and Hyperion Stakes.
Trainer Trevor Andrews is delighted with the progress Luckygray has made since his recent Roma Cup success, but has conceded he won’t have time to get Outlaw Pete ready for next month’s $100,000 Listed Belmont Guineas (1600m).
Andrews scratched Outlaw Pete from running first-up in a three-year-old 1400m handicap last Saturday due to a high temperature.
“He has a virus and he needs rest and treatment,” Andrews said.
“I’ll let the horse tell me when he is ready to start work again.
“The Belmont Guineas is off the agenda.”
Fellow Ascot trainer Miller is confident he can keep Liberty’s Gem on track for the Guineas, to be run on June 20.
Liberty’s Gem was found to have an ulcer on his soft palate and mucus in his trachea after running fourth to North Ridge as a $2.30 favourite in the race Outlaw Pete was scratched from.
“There was no evidence of either before the race,” Miller said.
“It came on pretty quick. I can put a tongue tie on him so as not to annoy the ulcer.
“He is very bright in himself and his healing is in the right direction.
“I still have plenty of time to get him ready.”
