Injury Thwarts Spotted Elk's Australian Cup Claims

SPOTTED Elk, runner-up in The Phoenix last December, will be scratched from the heats of the Group 1 Australian Cup (525m) at The Meadows on Saturday night.

The daughter of Paw Licking and It Gets Better finished last in the Group 1 Temlee behind Aston Rupee last Saturday night.

Owner-trainer, Graham Hall, noticed swelling in a stopper bone and x-rays yesterday at the Sandown Vet Clinic confirmed she has a stress fracture.

“It will force her onto the sidelines for at least four to six weeks,” said Hall.

“The injury is not career threatening, but if we raced her again, it could be.”

Spotted Elk, winner of 17 of her 40 starts and $238,000, was up sharing the early lead around the first turn in The Temlee.

2021 The TAB Phoenix. 525m
1st – Box 4 Wow She's Fast – Jacqueline Greenough
2nd – Box 3 Spotted Elk – Graham Hall
3rd – Box 8 Koblenz – David Geall
29.655. 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 pic.twitter.com/XKt9qeeJ80

— John Brasch (@Bunny_Brasch) December 18, 2021

“She came out of the catching pen OK, but the two dog clouted her into the back straight and that's obviously when it happened,” said Hall.

“She was in trouble from that moment on.”

Hall said the bitch never showed signs of lameness, but he quickly headed off to Sandown Vet Clinic yesterday to have the x-ray done and it confirmed the injury.

“Sandown has given me a program to treat the injury and that will start instantly,” said Hall.

Litter and kennelmate, Extra Malt, has drawn box four in another Cup heat and she will start.

“She's fine,” said Hall.

“Depending on what happens with her on Saturday night, we will be heading home soon.

“I will scratch Spotted Elk first thing this morning.”