MAIR FORCED TO ABANDON VICTORIAN SPRING CAMPAIGN

SUNSHINE COAST trainer Mick Mair has been forced to abort a Victorian spring campaign with Oakleigh Plate winner, Swiss Ace.

Swiss Ace, which dead-heated under the steadier of 68kg when first-up at his home track on Sunday, was found to be sore the following day.

X-rays have revealed bone chips in a leg and Swiss Ace will undergo surgery on Thursday before spelling. Mair had planned for him to contest the McEwen Stakes and Manikato Stakes in Melbourne later this month.

A winner of 12 races and prizemoney totaling close to $1 million, Swiss Ace will be out of action for a couple of months. “It’s not serious. If it was another horse he could still race,” Mair said. “It’s just bad timing.”

Another Sunshine Coast-trained galloper Phelan Ready has been cleared to undertake a Spring Carnival campaign in Melbourne despite his dismal effort in the $1 million Golden Rose at Rosehill last Saturday. He will head toward the Caulfield Guineas.

Trainer Jason McLachlan told Racing Radio in Brisbane today: “He's never run a bad race in his life and I can't pinpoint what went wrong. I just hope he had an off day. The vet went over him from head to toe and couldn't find anything wrong.”