Raised temperature forces O’President out of Slipper
Leading trainer Chris Waller’s hopes of claiming a first Golden Slipper success have been reduced with O’President being withdrawn with an elevated temperature.
O’President, a winner of two starts this preparation leading into Saturday’s delayed Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill, was an +1000 chance with TAB at the time of his scratching.
The two-year-old was found to have an elevated temperature following a routine inspection by the stable on Wednesday morning.
In a statement, Waller said the stable had monitored O’President for two hours before making the decision to treat the son of Fastnet Rock with antibiotics and scratch him from Saturday’s race.
“The horse remarkably still ate all of his feed and seems very bright and happy, but you can’t hide temperatures and no risks will be taken,” Waller said.
“It is unlikely he will race again at two but I will send him out to the farm today for a few days and monitor him before making that decision and it is most likely that he will be prepared properly for his three-year-old season, ready to take on the premier three-year-old stallion making races.
“It is disappointing for my owners and my staff but fortunately we have a talented Group Two winning colt with a bright future ahead.”
O’President would have been suited by a wet track on Saturday having won on heavy ground at Canterbury in January before winning his way into the Golden Slipper with victory in the Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on February 27.
Despite O’President’s scratching, Waller has Shaquero and Home Affairs still in contention for the $2 million first prize.
Profiteer remains favourite, firming into +260 following O’President’s scratching, ahead of Stay Inside (+360) and Four Moves Ahead (+400).