Sheila Laxon says an overly cautious approach led to defending Melbourne Cup winner Knight’s Choice being scratched from Saturday’s Group 1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield.
The reigning Cup winner remains in lockdown alongside Laxon’s other horses at Macedon Lodge as they wait for blood test results to return.
Betsy revealed on Sunday there were concerns for a number of the stable’s horses, with resident Macedon Lodge trainer Liam Howley also being told to not move his horses from the property.
Knight’s Choice was set to run second-up in the Underwood as part of his build-up to this year’s $10 million Cup, but he was withdrawn after slightly elevated temperatures among several horses in the Macedon Lodge team.
Laxon admitted the call may have been made in haste but stressed the champion stayer was now back to normal.
“His temperature was slightly elevated the morning before the races and we didn’t know why it was high, but he’s all good now,” Laxon said.
“Because we didn’t know what it was, we didn’t want to risk anything. We’ve had bloods taken off him and we will get the results in the next few days.”
“I am sure we were being overly cautious but with a horse like him we wouldn’t ever be pushing the boundaries. He’s eaten up and everything, so I think we just panicked.”
Racing Victoria stewards confirmed blood samples were taken from the Symons-Laxon horses, with results due this week.
