An out-of-sorts Appearance will not defend her Myer Classic title with trainer Guy Walter and owners Darley pulling the pin on her spring campaign.
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She joins her fellow triple Group One winning stablemate Streama in the spelling paddock with Walter now pinning his Melbourne carnival hopes on Toydini and the emerging Zanbagh.
Walter said he was not happy with Appearance who has been below par in an interrupted campaign after a sparkling autumn when she won Sydney’s two Group One races for mares.
Appearance had just two starts this spring after a delayed beginning and finished fourth at her most recent in the Golden Pendant won by Sharnee Rose.
“She is just not herself and she’s out for the spring,” Walter said.
“We’ll give her a good spell and hopefully she gets back to her best in the autumn.
In contrast, Streama earned her break with consistent performances from March to October with little rest on the way, culminating in victory in the George Main Stakes and the closest of seconds in the Epsom Handicap.
Toydini ran third in the Epsom won by Boban and will be aimed at the Emirates Stakes on November 9 while Zanbagh will put her Victorian Oaks potential on the line in the Listed Ethereal Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
The filly broke her maiden against older mares over 1600m at Ballarat last Thursday, even though she wanted to loaf in the final 100 metres.
By Bernadini out of the Walter-trained 2004 Australian Oaks winner Wild Iris, Zanbagh is raced by the Sandy and Kathy Tait and sports the family’s famous red and white colours carried by luminaries Baguette, Tie The Knot and Spinning Hill among many.
Walter is likely to take the advice of Glen Boss, her rider at Ballarat, and remove the blinkers from Zanbagh for her 2000m test.
“Glen said they did not help and she was a bit lost when she got to the front,” Walter said.
“We will probably take them off. She is a filly of promise and Saturday will tell us if we are on the path to the Oaks.
“Toydini will race in the Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley the following week and head to the Emirates.”
