Ryan Mark out of Makfi
Makfi Challenge Stakes late entry Underthemoonlight might sneak into the weight-for-age field should Southern Icon not gallop to the satisfaction of Matamata trainer Alan Tait on Wednesday morning.
The Karyn Mcquade-trained Underthemoonlight was the sole late entry on Tuesday for the first Group I race of the new season which will be contested over 1400m at Hastings on Saturday.
The lowly-rated El Hermano mare was elevated to 17th in order of entry for the capacity 16-horse race on Tuesday morning when Taupiri owner-trainer John Morell scratched Ryan Mark.
Morell said Ryan Mark had gone off his feed this week and when he failed to work up to expectations on Tuesday morning, he was left with no choice but to withdraw the Thorn Park gelding.
‘‘For some reason he went off his tucker three or four days ago,’’ Morell said. ‘‘We can’t pinpoint anything, his blood was alright without being brilliant, but then when he didn’t work quite as good as I would have liked this morning I knew he had to come out.
‘‘You’ve got to be 100 per cent for these races and he’s obviously not. It would be wrong to think you can take on those top horses like that.’’
Ryan Mark’s scratching has meant that the Stuart Manningtrained El Pescado has gained a start.
Southern Icon, who failed to stretch his winning sequence to five when he was unplaced in this month’s Foxbridge Plate, is assured of a start but Tait wants the assurance of a bold trackwork gallop at Matamata on Wednesday to seal the trip south.
A late betting move for Kawi on Tuesday saw last year’s winner close as the futures fixed-odds favourite ahead of Valley Girl, the pair at $4.20 and $4.80 respectively, with Stolen Dance a $6 third favourite.