BOOM Warrnambool galloper So Swift's racing career appears to be in the balance after the four-year-old was found to be suffering a throat problem trainer Symon Wilde described as worrying.
"We'll be taking So Swift up to the Ballarat Veterinary Clinic in a fortnight for them to have a look at his throat," Symon, who trains in partnership with his father Bill, said.
"We found out a few months ago that he had an issue and we took him up to the vet clinic and they advised us just to give him a break after they scoped his throat.
"They suggested the break might do him the world of good. We'll get him scoped again in a fortnight and if we are advised to have him operated on we will. He's shown a lot of ability from his limited starts."
So Swift swept to prominence when he won the $350,000 Sandown Guineas over 1600 metres at Sandown in November last year. He suffered a small bone chip to his off-front leg as a late three-year-old and was spelled.
Wilde said the horse showed no signs of soreness in his off-front leg.
" He's as sound as a bell. It's just disappointing that we can't program anything for So Swift until we go back to the vet clinic," he said. "The success rate for throat operations is very good now compared to years ago. We'll just be guided by what the vets say and discuss it with the owners before making any decisions."
So Swift has won two of his six starts and picked up more than $230,000 in stakemoney.
KOROIT hobby trainer James McNamara has decided to spell his stable star Hornets' Nest after his impressive win in a $50,000 restricted race over 2200 metres at Warrnambool last week.
Originally, McNamara said he might push on with Hornets' Nest and run him in a $100,000 2800-metre race at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day but McNamara has had a change of heart.
"I took him home after his win last Thursday and just decided to put him in the paddock for a six-to-eight-week break," the 38-year-old said.
"He deserves the rest. He's had four starts for us for four wins. There's nothing wrong with him. We don't want to burn him out.
"I reckon the tracks will start to get harder now. We know he loves wet ground so there was no real use to push on with him in this preparation as the tracks were going to dry out too much."
McNamara added he would aim Hornets' Nest at races in the autumn, with one of his goals having a start at next year's Warrnambool May Carnival.
Hornets' Nest has earned more than $64,000 in prize money for his connections since he joined McNamara's stable in May this year.
FOLLOWING the success of the trainers' bonus at the Warrnambool Oaks Day meeting last year, the club will do the same again at the fixture on November 8. It introduced the bonus in a bid to increase runners . Club CEO John Green said entries increased from 49 at the 2010 meeting to 77 last year on the back of the trainers' bonus.
"We're offering $2000 for the trainer that has the highest aggregate points for the meeting," Green said. "Our second bonus is $500 for any trainer who trains two winners and $1000 if any trainer has a treble. We're confident with the bonuses on offer we'll get great support from owners and trainers once again."
Green said there were still some marquee packages available for its Oaks Day meeting.
"Our Oaks Day meeting coincides with the Victoria Racing Club Oaks Day meeting at Flemington. It's a big day's racing. Our meeting continues to grow and given good weather we're expecting another big crowd this year," he said.
MEMBERS and fans of East Warrnambool Football Netball Club (EWFNC) have high hopes for first-start winner East Star.
The three-year-old filly broke her maiden status with victory in a 1000-metre race at Donald .
East Star, $13, edged out $1.70 favourite Valid Contract with Colac hoop Ryan Maloney on board.
It was sixth with 400 metres to go but stormed home to salute at the post.
EWFNC president Richard Jaynes said the win had connections hoping for more success through summer, with the filly bred to run over more ground.
Jaynes is one of 20 owners of the horse who are associated with the Reid Oval-based club.
The group bought shares through Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock owner Darren Dance and Warrnambool trainer Matthew Williams in April.
Williams is a sponsor of EWFNC.
"We've got a good little horse," Jaynes said.
"We're building a bit of camaraderie and it keeps the club together. It builds a bit of interest."
Jaynes said East Star would have her next start at Warrnambool's Oaks Day meeting on November 8, or at Warrnambool on November 22.
WARRNAMBOOL Racing Club will join in the celebrations of the Spring Racing Carnival by hosting a free barbecue breakfast at the course tomorrow morning.
The breakfast runs from 7.30am to 9.30am. People who take up the offer will have the opportunity to watch horses being put through their paces as unofficial trials will be staged from 8.30am.
NOMINATIONS to win a place on the Country Racing Victoria board of directors close on November 9.
Sitting members Chas Armytage, Brian Dougherty, Neil McRae and Lance McMillan have all renominated. The annual general meeting of CRV takes place on December 1.
JOCKEY Billy Egan was suspended by stewards at the Horsham meeting on Sunday on a careless riding charge. Egan pleaded guilty to the charge, which led to him being outed until midnight on October 27.