Eleonora ruled out of Australian Oaks
New Zealand filly Eleonora, the equal second favourite for the Australian Oaks, has been ruled out of the Classic with a muscle tear.
Co-trainer Andrew Forsman told nzracing.co the filly was lame after working on Saturday.
“She was lame after she galloped on Saturday and she’s got a slight muscle tear,” Forsman said.
“It’s gutting, but at least it’s not a long-term issue and she’ll be fine in time,”
A granddaughter of 2001 Caulfield and Melbourne Cups winner Ethereal, Eleonora raced in Melbourne last spring, appropriately winning a Group Three race named for her grandmother.
Forsman and co-trainer Murray Baker will still have a presence at the Sydney autumn carnival with NZ Derby placegetter Jon Snow to stake his Australian Derby claims on Saturday week.
“He’ll run in the Tulloch Stakes and if he runs well he’ll go to the Derby,” Forsman said.
Eleonora had been the $8 second favourite alongside Dawn Wall for the Oaks on April 8 with another NZ filly La Bella Diosa the $6 favourite.
Jon Snow is at $26 for the Derby a week earlier with Randwick Guineas winner Inference the $6 favourite ahead of NZ Derby winner Gingernuts and Victoria Derby winner Prized Icon at $8.