Malvern star on the rise

IT SAYS something for the way comeback galloper Malvern Estate is going that trainer Desleigh Forster considered Wednesday’s Grafton Ramornie Handicap as a starting point before opting for a setweight Class 6 at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.

Malvern Estate has not raced since June last year after developing a keratoma (a benign tumour) in one of his hind feet and requiring surgery.

Forster described the injury as like having a stone in the foot and said it was likely it had been there for some time before being diagnosed.

“He had been out for a spell and when he came back into work, he felt a bit lame,” Brisbane-based

Forster (pictured) said. “We X-rayed the foot, which showed he had something in his foot and it had to get taken out. Because it was surgery into his hoof, we had to give it time to grow back.

“It had probably been there a long time and just got bigger and bigger.

“We thought it was just a stone bruise, but X-rays showed it was more than that.

“When you do surgery on horse’s feet, you need to give them time to grow back, so that’s why he had such a long spell.”

Forster said while the sixyear-old was open to improvement on his first-up run on Saturday, he was going well enough to win this 1000m contest, especially under the set-weight conditions.

Before the enforced break, Malvern Estate had run in five consecutive Listed races, finishing top four in four of them and his trainer says the ability is still there. “We were going to Grafton for the Ramornie, but were not allowed without an official trial, so we canned that idea,” she said.

“Then we looked at the Eye Liner (at Ipswich next Saturday), but decided to take the easier option first up.

“He loves this track, he loves the distance.

“He’s had one jumpout and won that, so he’s going pretty well.

“Sure he’s going to improve, but he’s been racing Group and Listed horses and he’s done enough work to be winning this race.

“If I had a stable full of horses that give you the effort he does every time he goes to the races, I’d be a leading trainer.”

Forster also has the grey mare Twilighter resuming over 1600m tomorrow and expects her to acquit herself well too.

“She’s had a nice break and trialled up good,” she said.