Racing: Aftershock's exit bombshell for City of Auckland Cup

Donna Logan. Photo / Tania Webb

KEY POINTS:

Aftershock was yesterday a surprise withdrawal from Monday's $200,000 City Of Auckland Cup because of a leg problem.

The Ruakaka stayer had been one of the favourites for the race since his close second in the Avondale Cup last start.

Co-trainer Donna Logan yesterday noticed a slight puffiness in a suspensory ligament.

"I asked the rider to paddle him in the surf, but it was still there when he came out of the water.

"The vet arrived and said it was a very slight issue with the suspensory."

Logan said Aftershock could spend six weeks spelling.

"We really don't know where we're at. We'll have to wait and see how long it takes for the swelling to go down."

Logan said she had been extremely confident of Aftershock going close to winning.

"Oh, it's disgusting, gut-wrenching. I could not have been happier with him.

"I've been telling the owners all week how well he's been going.

"That was a very hard phone call to make."

Another difficult one might have been to Lisa Cropp, who was to have ridden Aftershock.

Cropp could also have ridden Chettak, on whom she won the Manawatu Cup.

She kept her options open as long as possible, but was eventually forced to make a decision with Grant Cooksley subsequently getting the Chettak ride. Cooksley was a winner on Chettak at his only ride on the horse.

Chettak's trainer Stephen Marsh acknowledged that his horse's task has been made that much easier.

"You don't like to see those things happen, but it's made our job a bit easier.

"He was definitely the horse to beat."

Marsh said Chettak's final gallop yesterday morning was "brilliant".

* Futures odds on the re-jigged market for the City Of Auckland Cup after the withdrawal of Aftershock were as follows.

$5.50 Willy Smith, Chettak, $8 So You, $9 Three Chimneys, Casa De Campo, $10 Mandela, $13 Ntamack, $16 Bak Da Chief, Valley Chief, Upstaged, $18 Philamor, $21 Genebel, Highflying, Hurrah, Shinko Prince, $31 Generated, Accelerant, $35 Gallions Reach, $41 Myladys, $100 Tinkerbeel.

Futures odds for the Railway Handicap run Monday.

$3.50 Gee I Jane, $5 Imananabaa, $7 Kays Awake, $9 Clifton Prince, $10 Solvini, $12 Inshelucky, Fiorenza, $13 Donna Rosita, $14 Belthazar, $16 Sent To Sea, $18 Tatlock, $21 St Verdi, Ticklish, $26 Mi Jubilee, Penitentiary, $40 Magistra Delecta.

The fields for the City Of Auckland Cup and Railway are drawn late this morning.

There are 17 nominations for the Railway, with a safety limit of 14 runners.

Indications are that they would all accept, which would see Inshelucky the first emergency.

Chief TAB bookie Paul Lally said the biggest bet laid in the last couple of weeks was the $7000 the agency took on Thursday for Cluden Creek to win the Wellington Cup at $16 odds.

"It was to win $112,000 that's a decent bet," said Lally.