By The ANZ Bloodstock News Team
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Yulong’s four-time Group 1-winning mare Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express) will miss this weekend’s Makybe Diva Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) after suffering what her trainer Matt Laurie has described as a ‘very mild case of colic’.
The four-year-old daughter of Alabama Express (Redoute’s Choice) – who landed the VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m), Vinery Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) and Australian Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) last season – returned with a brilliant first-up success in the Memsie Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) last month and was set to tackle this weekend’s Group 1 over a mile.
“It has been decided that Treasurethe Moment will not compete in the Makybe Diva Stakes this weekend and the stewards have been duly informed,” Laurie said on Monday.
“Unfortunately, this morning ‘Treasure’ had a very mild case of colic. This was identified very quickly and out of precaution she was taken to hospital for observation.
“I can report she is in the best of care, she looks bright and her prognosis is very good.
“We will look at other race alternatives in due course, always keeping her best interest as a priority.”
Treasurethe Moment also has a further three Group 2 wins to her four at the elite level, with her winning total standing at ten wins from 12 starts and over $3 million in prize-money.
Yulong had only last week revealed that the mare was being set for a blockbuster showdown with ownermate Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock) in October’s Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m), however that decision is now up in the air following Monday’s news.
“That’s obviously going to be down to Matt [Laurie],” Yulong’s chief operating officer Sam Fairgray told The Verdict podcast.
“She is a four-year-old mare with plenty of options. Obviously with Via [Sistina] already Cox Plate bound, it’s not a necessity to have her heading that way.
“We’ll just see how she comes through the next few days and Matt can make that call.”