Trainers say ‘lame’ pair OK to race

CIARON Maher and Mick Price are adamant there is nothing amiss with Blue Diamond Stakes contenders Loving Gaby and Shotmaker despite Racing Victoria vets ruling the pair lame.

Loving Gaby, the $5 favourite, and $14 chance Shotmaker will undergo further inspections today when RV vets and stewards will reassess the situation. RV said the two-yearolds presented with lameness in their off-fore limbs.

If vets are unhappy with the condition of either when reinspected, they could be scratched.

Price was fuming when contacted by News Corp.

“They had a look at him and decided he didn’t trot up 100 per cent,” Price said.

“My farrier, rider, foreman can’t find anything wrong with him.

“It’s going to be a subjective measurement.

“They will come back at 9am tomorrow morning and have another look.”

Maher is confident Loving Gaby is not lame. “She’s spot on,” Maher said. “She was fine yesterday and she was fine today.

“She must have stepped on something.

“But I’m sure she will be 100 per cent tomorrow. No problems.”

Maher was thrust into a similar situation two years ago when unbeaten colt Jukebox was ruled out of the Blue Diamond on race eve.

An abscess burst in the youngster’s nearside foreleg the following morning, vindicating the decision of vets.