By MIKE DILLON
The Pumper has had his proposed trip to Melbourne canned by a slight muscle problem in his rump.
The classy 3-year-old was to have had a preparatory run at Avondale yesterday on his way to Australia, but the Roger James stable detected a slight uneveness in his action.
"His work last week was sensational," said Roger James at Avondale yesterday.
"He galloped again this week and while the effort was very good compared to the other horses, it wasn't up to the standard of what he produced last week.
"I couldn't really detect too much in his action trotting around so when I was at Trentham yesterday I got my partner Sally to trot him again and she called in vet Jim Marks.
"Jim's opinion is that the horse has a slight muscle twinge and would probably trot himself out of it if a Derby was coming up, but there is plenty of time for him and it will mean he will probably miss only the one race in Melbourne. I should get him to Sydney."
James had more to feel happy about when he watched fellow 3-year-olds Danamite and Lunette gallop between races yesterday.
Danamite started four lengths behind Lunette and finished alongside after 1000m, the last 600 in 34.9.
"He was doing only threequarter pace," Danamite's rider Peter Johnson told James.
"Yes," replied James, "he's a very good horse on a firm track."
Danamite will have a PQ 1600m race at Trentham before taking on the Rosehill Guineas in Sydney.
"He's a very clean winded horse, and needs very little racing. The Rosehill Guineas will be all he requires to fit him for the AJC Derby."
Lunette blew heavily after the gallop.
Racing: Twinge in muscle puts paid to trip
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