Monkey King has a recurrence of a knee ailment.
"He is a bit funny in a knee and felt it last start when he hung," Brendon Hill, his Kaiapoi trainer, said.
"Robert [Famularo, the owner] and I will have a talk about turning him out for a spell or retiring him."
The 9yr-old Monkey King, winner of 39 races and $3,487,401 in stakes, has recorded a fourth (last Saturday) in seven starts since he won the Hannon Memorial fresh up at Oamaru in October.
Ian Small, the trainer of Gomeo Romeo, said the horse had a minor problem.
Sir Lincoln, who is seeking a good mile time for a prospective stud career, easily won a free-for-all at Addington last Saturday. He won the Harness Jewels over a mile in 1.54.5 as a 3yr-old at Cambridge in 2010. His regular driver, Maurice McKendry, is back in the sulky. James Stormont drove the entire last week when McKendry was in Melbourne for the Interdominion Trotting Final.
Pay Me Christian has entered consideration for the Magic Mile. He has had a second in six starts in a comeback bid this season as a 9yr-old. He won the 2009 Newcastle Mile in 1.52.8, then an Australian and New Zealand record. He has not won a race for four years but was out of racing for two and a-half years during that time.
His trainer, Steven McRae, has had the disappointment of scratching San Rafaella from the $16,000 final of the Canterbury Speed series for mares tomorrow.
"She has just not bounced back from her win in the heat at Addington last Saturday," Peter O'Rourke, the manager of Spreydon Lodge, said.
Ten Diamonds, who ran fourth behind Carabella in the New Zealand Breeders' Stakes last Saturday, and Kristina, who won a heat of the series in 1.55.2 at Ashburton on December 26, are sound chances in the final. Ten Diamonds, now trained by Robert Dunn after changing ownership, will be driven by Jim Curtin.
The other heat winners in the series are Supreme Gem (1.59.2, Methven, December 11) and Jass (1.58.1, Richmond, January 6).
Carabella has pleased trainer Hill since her win. She is now being aimed at the Ladyship Stakes at Menangle on March 3.
The winner of 17 of her 19 starts and runner-up in the other two, Carabella has yet to race outside New Zealand.
• Auckland Reactor has been confirmed for the Interdominion and he will fly from Auckland to Perth tomorrow, The New Zealand Herald reports. Anthony Butt has been engaged to drive Auckland Reactor in the first round of heats next Friday.
• Ohoka Colorado has joined the Queensland stable of John and Pete McMullen after changing ownership. The 3yr-old son of Christian Cullen-Millwood Krystal has won his last two starts and three from nine from the Papakura stable of Tony Herlihy when raced by Katie Carville.
