Racing
Aborted start to spring campaign
A slight temperature spike and mucus on scope kept McGaw from resuming at Caulfield.
A missed start at Caulfield is not expected to adversely affect the spring aspirations of talented three-year-old Mcgaw.
The Emma-Lee and David Browne-trained three-year-old was down to run in the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) on Saturday, but a temperature spike on race eve caused him to miss the race.
Instead, the Browne's are planning on taking McGaw to Caulfield on Tuesday week for a track gallop before he resumes in the Group 3 H D F McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on August 30.
"He was just a bit dull on Friday afternoon," Emma-Lee Browne said.
"It's unfortunate. It was very minor, and we scoped him after he had a temperature on Friday, and when scoped him there was a tiny bit of mucus.
"We thought if he had run, you get into that mind where you wonder if they have come back well and up to it, but luckily, we found out early.
"It was pretty minor, but we didn't want to flatten him first-up when he wasn't 100 per cent, so we'll take him to Caulfield on the Tuesday before the next meeting.
"A trip away is almost like a jump-out for him as he works himself pretty hard, so we'll just have to wait a little longer now to see him back."
Stablemate Basilina is expected to kick off on the same day in a 2000m handicap.
Basilinna has a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 4, courtesy of her victory in the Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington in March.
Browne said their planning to get to the Cup was working back from Melbourne Cup Day.
"She does prefer to get out over a bit of ground straight away, that seems to keep her happy," Browne said.
"We've programmed in for the Cup to be fifth up, because that seems to be when she has gone very, very well.
"It's a nice position to be in, but its slightly nerve-racking also."
Stablemates Scary and Statuario, who along with Basilinna hold an entry for the Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 18, are expected to resume in the So You Think Stakes (1500m) at Moonee Valley on September 6.
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