New Zealand’s Positivity scratched from A$5m Caulfield Cup due to lameness

Positivity (centre) has been scratched from the Caulfield Cup.

New Zealand’s sole rep in today’s A$5 million ($5.52m) Caulfield Cup has been scratched.

Positivity was taken out of the iconic race yesterday afternoon after a dramatic day that saw her Cup place under threat for two different reasons.

Trainer Andrew Forsman was already concerned by the heavy rain that was falling in Melbourne with more forecast, with Positivity preferring a good track.

But that ended up being the lesser of two issues after Positivity showed minor signs of lameness in a hoof first on Thursday and then again yesterday.

Racing Victoria vets inspected all Caulfield Cup contenders over the last two days and Positivity showed the slight signs of discomfort when trotted up.

“She had just been shod and really didn’t think it was much and either did their vets,” said Forsman.

“But they came back this morning and she looked to trot up fine and there was no sign of any heat or pulsing in her hooves, which has appeared to be the problem the day before.

“They flexed her up [checked joints by moving them] and couldn’t find an issue but they still weren’t totally happy.

“I had one more look at it just now [Friday afternoon] and I’ve decided to take her out and not risk her for both reasons.”

Positivity could now run in the Moonee Valley Cup next Friday if she returns to full soundness quickly enough.

Forsman still has Aegon racing at Caulfield tomorrow and he will not be worried by the wet track so could be each-way value.

Earlier in the day, Te Akau mare Quintessa races but she would be better suited by a drier track than looks likely.

The rain has thrown the Caulfield Cup market into confusion so punters might be wise to wait and watch to see how the track plays early in the day.

Michael Guerin wrote his first nationally published racing articles while still in school and started writing about horse racing and the gambling industry for the Herald as a 20-year-old in 1990. He became the Herald’s Racing Editor in 1995 and covers the world’s biggest horse racing carnivals.