The Dennis brothers yesterday scratched The Pearler from the South Island Breeder's Stakes at Riccarton today after she was off colour.
"She didn't eat up for two days two mornings ago and she was lethargic," Tony Dennis, her co-trainer, said last night.
"We have had the vet treat her and she was eating plenty of grass today [Friday], Dennis said.
"It appeared to be a chill or virus of some sort."
Dennis said it was disappointing, as the brothers had been setting the 4yr-old Volksraad mare for the $75,000 race for some time.
The brothers will now have to reassess a planned North Island campaign for The Pearler.
"We had been looking to race her in the North Island but we will have to have another look at that now," Dennis said.
There is a rating 90 race suitable for The Pearler at Riccarton in two weeks.
The Cambridge-trained Gin Dartre has assumed the mantel of TAB final field favourite at $4.80 for the Breeders' Stakes with the scratching of The Pearler who was equal favourite with her at $5.50 on Thursday.
The brothers also scratched her travelling companion, The Cloud, from the last race today. She had drawn wide and has a race at Gore next Friday.
The Dennis brothers have The Choice (race 1) to represent them at Riccarton today. The half-brother by O'Reilly to The Pearler, in the Steve Anderton stable, was caught in the last few strides when she finished second, beaten a head by The Muppet, over 1200m at Gore at her first. She has been freshened since her unplaced run at her second start at Wingatui on January 31.
• The favourite Hot Danish has been scratched from the Coolmore Classic at Rosehill today, AAP reports.
Trainer Les Bridge informed stewards of the decision early yesterday.
The Randwick trainer voiced concerns earlier in the week about Hot Danish being lumped with the top weight of 59kg for the Coolmore and the decision to scratch her was made following discussions with the owners of the mare.
Bridge told stewards Hot Danish would have her next start in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill in two weeks before running in the $2 million Doncaster (1600m) at Randwick on April 18.
Hot Danish has 53.5kg in the Doncaster.
Unbeaten Victorian Typhoon Tracy is now favourite for the Coolmore at $4.80 with TAB Sportsbet.
Racing To Win has been scratched from the Canterbury Stakes today due to a hoof abscess which burst on Thursday morning.
Trainer John O'Shea is now aiming Racing To Win at either the group one George Ryder Stakes (1500m) or the listed Royal Parma Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on Golden Slipper day, April 4.
• Darren Beadman is able to ride Tuesday Joy in Dubai and More Joyous in the Golden Slipper despite being suspended in Hong Kong.
Beadman, who returns from the former British colony to ride the Gai Waterhouse-trained More Joyous in the Reisling Stakes at Rosehill today, was outed for his ride on Bondi Lad at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
He pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding in the closing stages of a 1000m race after his mount shifted out when not clear of Happee Gift who lost his rightful running and had to be checked.
Beadman was suspended until April 14 but the commencement of the ban was deferred until after the Sha Tin meeting on April 5.
The Waterhouse-trained multiple group one winner Tuesday Joy was flown out of Sydney on Tuesday to contest the Dubai Duty Free (1777m) at Nad Al Sheba on March 28.
More Joyous needs to win today to cement her place in the $A3.5 million Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 4.
• Additional information for meetings today:
Racing Tauranga:
Form:
Race 9: Glam Slam finished second at Hastings yesterday.
Scratchings:
Race 1: Neon, Raine Bird, Auntie Bram.
Race 9: Rough Odds.
Weather, fine; track, dead (4), rail true.
Canterbury Racing:
Rider:
Race 8: Le Thunder - L Allpress.
Scratchings:
Race 4: Celtic Dream.
Race 10: The Pearler.
Race 11: The Cloud.
Weather, fine; track, good (2), rail out 3m.
Interdominion:
Race 7: Auckland Reactor - A Herlihy.
