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Waddell return delayed; Humidor pleases with trial victory; Elleegant set to resume in Winx Stakes;
Waddell return delayed
Cambridge jockey Jason Waddell has been forced to delay his return to raceday riding.
Waddell underwent surgery on his right leg on May 27 and had planned to resume at the start of this season, but a setback has left him unsure of the exact date of his return.
"The operation went well and I rode at the trials (Te Rapa on July 29), but I got a small infection in the leg," he said.
"I got a bit over-eager and probably tried to come back a touch too soon.
"I won't take a ride until I'm 100 percent sure that once I start I won't have to stop again, whether that be in three or six weeks."
Waddell hasn't ridden since March 2 and wound up with a tally of 53 wins, including four Group or Listed victories, during the past season. His most important win came on Shadows Cast in the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham.
Humidor pleases with trial victory
Humidor is set to kick-off his spring campaign in the Gr.1 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield next Saturday and his connections are pleased with the gelding heading into the race after his 990m trial win at Cranbourne on Monday.
"It was nice, the track was pretty rain-affected," said Ciaron Maher, who trains in partnership with David Eustace. "He has made nice progression from his first jump out and first trial. His coat has come out.
"I put him in the visors (for his trial), he has raced in the blinkers before, just to help him travel through the wetter ground.
"Damian (Lane, jockey) gave him a nice report. He had a nice little blow when he came back in, it's just another progression.
"He did a little bit more on him today with another gallop next week he is probably right to kick-off in the Memsie."
Humidor won the Memsie last year and will head into the Group One event in a fresh state this term after recovering from a season ending injury in the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) last year.
"The idea is to have him right for the Cox Plate," Maher said. "He is going to take some improvement out of his first-up run.
"He was successful in a Memsie, but I think he had a run before that in the Peter Lawrence, so he'll take some improvement, but I couldn't be happier where he is at and how he is going."
Elleegant set to resume in Winx Stakes
Dual Group One winner Verry Elleegant is one of four Chris Waller-trained gallopers nominated for Saturday's Gr.1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick, joining stablemates Unforgotten, Youngstar and Kings Will Dream.
Originally trained in New Zealand, Verry Elleegant looks poised to make a big impression this spring, with the daughter of Zed continuing to please her conditioner.
"Verry Elleegant galloped well this morning and James McDonald was on board and gave me the thumbs up post-work," Waller said.
"I think her mannerisms improved last preparation, in terms of relaxing much better, so we have got the benefit of that on our side.
"We seem to have a good platform now and starting them off over 1400m is always a bit easier as well, as they're out of their comfort zone in terms of speed. I am really happy with where she is at.
"She's a bit stronger. I wouldn't say she has gone overboard and put on lots and lots of weight but she certainly looks a bit stronger this time in."
The winner of the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) and Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) in the autumn, Verry Elleegant was scheduled to gallop at Randwick between races last Saturday, but was forced to miss the hit-out after being a little tender under-foot as a result of pulling a shoe during trackwork last week.
Verry Elleegant is part-owned by New Zealanders, with John and Mark Carter, along with their sister Rachel owning 25 percent of the mare, while her original owners, which include New Zealand trainer Nick Bishara, also retained 25 percent.
