AARON Purcell hopes he has a clearer picture as to the long-term future of his stable star St Jean on Thursday.
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The imported galloper has been caught up in a long-going issue relating to Ibuprofen, which is a non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug and therefore it is a prohibited substance in accordance with the Rules of Racing.
The Racing Victoria board will meet on Thursday to establish rules on Ibuprofen, which has sidelined more than 20 gallopers, including Darren Weir's top stayer Signoff.
Purcell said it was difficult trying to explain to St Jean's owners the issues relating to Ibuprofen.
"The whole issue has been very frustrating for St Jean's owners," the Warrnambool Grand Annual Steeplechase-winning trainer said.
"I just hope we get guidelines put in place as to what we can do with St Jean in the future. He's the best horse I've trained, so it's all been very disappointing for so many people."
St Jean injured his near-side tendon in September 2014 after winning four races from eight Australian starts for Purcell.
The Warrnambool trainer sent St Jean for rehabilitation work. The six-year-old returned to work at his Warrnambool stable and later tested positive to Ibuprofen.
Purcell had earmarked a start in the $1.5-million Australian Cup on March 12, but he has been forced to abandon those plans.
The bad luck with St Jean continued last week when Purcell found the stallion had an infected off-back leg following a stable accident.
"We've treated St Jean with penicillin to fix the infection," he said. "We're not sure how long the infection will stay there. It might be four days or four weeks."
Ridler’s double
FORMER top Western District jockey Stephen Ridler resumed riding with a winning double at Darwin on Saturday, after six months on the sidelines with a back injury.
Ridler, 55 – who was apprenticed to the late Terang trainer Fred Drever – won the 1979 Warrnambool Wangoom Handicap on Grey Sapphire.
The talented horseman was successful on Another Man's Gain and Merveille on Saturday.
"It's great to be back riding,” he said.
“I really missed riding horses – being a jockey is all I've known.
“I was out injured with a strained lower back following riding at Kununurra. The joints were out of place between the discs.
“I'm feeling a million dollars now and kicking home two winners has made me feel even better."
Lovely yearlings for Freedman
CROSSLEY trainer Mitch Freedman may have missed out on buying yearlings in New Zealand, but the young mentor picked up a couple of yearlings at the three day Inglis Classic Sale in Sydney.
Freedman purchased a colt by Congrats (USA) out of the Irish mare Pas de Deux for $100,000 and a Testa Rossa colt for $62,500.
"Both yearlings are lovely types," he said.
"The Congrats colt is already sold to stable clients and there are a couple of shares left in the Testa Rossa colt, but I think they will be snapped up quick.
“I thought the yearlings in New Zealand were expensive and it looks like the Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale will also be dear. This sale looked a good option."
Surface healing
THE decision to have the Hamilton meeting listed for January 24 transfered to Colac was correct, according to Hamilton Racing Club president Peter Young.
The popular president said the transfer has given the racing surface time to grow again.
"The track had a major refurbishment. I'm glad we never went ahead with the January meeting," Young said.
"It's the first time the surface has had major works done to it in nearly 10 years. We had 30ml of rain two weeks ago, which has really helped the track."
Hamilton is scheduled to host its next meeting on April 11.
Hall happy with her form
KOROIT-born apprentice jockey Chelsea Hall is making every post a winner.
Hall, 24, had a winning double at Terang last Thursday before riding two winners at Bordertown on Sunday.
The former Brauer College student, who is apprentice to Stawell trainer Terry O'Sullivan, said she was enjoying the good run of success.
"I've been happy with my form," she said.
"I've ridden 39 winners in 18 months. I've found I'm getting more outside rides which is helping my career."
Hall still has a claim of two kilograms before it drops to 1.5kgs after she has ridden 50 winners.
Bans for jockeys
IRISH jockey Declan Bates, who is based in Warrnambool, is out of action until February 14 after being suspended on a careless riding charge following his ride on Blacktein at Terang last Thursday.
Bates was allowed to ride See What I Bring for Symon Wilde at Caulfield on Saturday before his suspension commenced.
Jockey Jack Hill was outed by stewards on two careless riding charges at Terang.
Hill, who has appealed against the severity of the penalty, will have his appeal heard on Wednesday morning.
The stewards outed him to February 17.
Warrnambool-born jockey Daniel Moor was also rubbed out by stewards following his winning ride at Terang.
Moor's suspension begins on February 9 and ends on February 27.