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New Zealand Racing News
Wednesday, June 20 2018

The Nigel Tiley-trained Megablast is set to continue his campaign in Queensland after a setback which forced his withdrawal from the Gr.2 Brisbane Cup (2400m).

After a setback which derailed his Brisbane Cup tilt, the Nigel Tiley-trained Megablast is back on track and will continue his Queensland campaign.  - Race Images - Kenton Wright

“He knocked a sesamoid, which is why I had to scratch him out of the Brisbane Cup and I think the track at Doomben on Saturday is going to be pretty firm, so he won’t run in the Tattersalls Cup either,” Tiley said.

“The weather forecast is for sunshine all week and I think I’d rather just get him ready for the Caloundra Cup.

Tiley will use the Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) on June 30 as a springboard to the Gr.3 Queen’s Cup Trophy (3200m) a fortnight later for the son of Shinko King, who relishes any easing in the ground.

Megablast has proved very competitive in his two Queensland starts, finishing sixth in the Gr.3 Chairman’s Handicap (2000m) at Doomben and third in the Gr.2 P.J. O’Shea Stakes (2200m) behind Egg Tart and subsequent Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) winner Tradesman. 

“I thought it was a huge run in the O’Shea Stakes,” Tiley said.

“It was just a shame that the track dried out like it did because it was pouring down with rain early in the week. That was always going to be the race that topped him off for the Brisbane Cup.

“We haven’t lost a lot of ground with him. He’s probably only missed a couple of gallops since he hurt his leg. He’s still working but it has just been a case of doing a lot of walking and slow, steady work to keep him up to the mark.

“We scanned and x-rayed him again on Tuesday morning and got the all-clear so we are good to go.”

Meanwhile, closer to home Tiley will have Odisha tackle the Listed Woburn Farm Tauranga Classic (1400m) on Saturday and hopes to sneak some black-type with the four-win mare.

“We are desperately trying to get a little bit of black-type with her and there are only seven nominated.

“She’s not well placed under the conditions, but she is very well, so she might as well have a crack.”

Posted by: AT 04:40 am   |  Permalink   |  Email
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