The Gerald Ryan trained Menari has been forced out of the $13m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 13 and the entire Everest Carnival after suffering a tendon injury.
A leg injury has forced Menari, above, out of The Everest 2018. Photo by Steve Hart.
Menari had been secured by slot holder Max Whitby to run for his syndicate in The Everest and the withdrawal of the Snitzel stallion reduces the confirmed runners back to nine, leaving three slots open.
Ryan notified Racing New South Wales stewards this morning that Menari had injured his near fore tendon and as well as missing the Everest Carnival, the injury could be bad enough to end the four year old’s racing career.
Racing New South Wales Stewards released the following statement:
“Trainer Gerald Ryan has reported to Racing NSW Stewards this morning that Menari has sustained an injury to its near fore tendon and will not race during the Sydney Spring Carnival which includes The Everest to be conducted at Randwick on Saturday, 13 October 2018.
“Mr Ryan advised that given the nature of the injury, connections will now give consideration to retiring the stallion.”
James McDonald had been booked to ride Menari in The Everest but he will now be looking for a new mount for the world’s richest race on turf.
Menari hadn’t raced since finishing third as favourite to his stablemate Trapeze Artist in the Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill last September during the 2017 Sydney Spring Carnival and was on the comeback trail following a throat operation to help his breathing.
Trapeze Artist will run for slot holder Aquis in The Everest and has been installed as the $4.50 favourite with Ladbrokes.com.au just ahead of last year’s winner Redzel, the Darren Weir trained Nature Strip and last Saturday’s Bletchingly Stakes winner Vega Magic at $6 while Menari was rated a $10 chance before his withdrawal.
Confirmed runners for the 2018 The Everest: Trapeze Artist (Aquis, slot holder), In Her Time (TAB), Redzel (Yulong Investments), Brave Smash (Chris Waller Racing), Shoals (The Star), English (Damion Flower), Santa Ana Lane (Inglis) and Vega Magic (James Harron), two remaining slots yet to be filled.
Early betting for the 2018 The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.50 Trapeze Artist, $6 Redzel, Nature Strip, Vega Magic, $9 Kementari, $11 U S Navy Flag, In Her Time, Santa Ana Lane, $15 Shoals, Brave Smash, $21 English, $26 Happy Clapper, $31 She Will Reign, $41 Winx, $61 or better the rest.
