The promising three-year-old Matias will miss the Queensland Derby because of a leg injury, and top sprinter Jedibeel must undergo throat surgery with no races planned until later in the year.
Both gifted horses represent key withdrawals for the balance of the season at least, after teasing grand-race prospects in Sydney’s highlight autumn carnival.
Matias became an early frontrunner for the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on May 30, buoyed by his commanding triumph in the Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Royal Randwick two weeks prior.
According to Racing And Sports, trainer Gerald Ryan disclosed that Matias incurred a small leg injury while at trackwork last Saturday.
“Matias twisted a joint and is going to the paddock,” said Ryan, who trains in partnership with Sterling Alexiou.
“We would have been behind the eight-ball trying to get him ready for the Derby.
So, we have pulled up stumps, he will have a break and hopefully be back for spring.
I was devastated when it happened as the horse was coming along so well for Brisbane.”
Jedibeel, who qualified for The Everest in the previous spring, exhibited a throat ailment following his disappointing finish near the back in The Quokka at Ascot on April 18.
It marked an unusual display from $2 million prize-money earner Jedibeel, who had just before rallied from last at the turn to narrowly fail against Marhoona in the Group 1 The Galaxy at Rosehill on Golden Slipper Day.
“A month ago Jedibeel nearly wins The Galaxy then three weeks later we are dealing with this,” trainer Brad Widdup said.
“After The Quokka, (jockey) Tyler Schiller told us the horse was making a noise so we had the horse checked by the vets.
You see some scopes and you think how does the horse even breathe but fortunately it is not that bad with Jedibeel.
But there is enough there where we have to do something so he will have the throat surgery.
I’m not sure how long he will have out, he may miss the spring or return later in the year, we will just see how the surgery goes.
But the horse comes first. Jedibeel has been a great horse for us and I will give him all the time he needs before getting him back to the races.”
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