Chinatown Lad scratched
Champion stayer to miss Group 2 Sir John Dillon Memorial

Dual Group 1 winning stayer Chinatown Lad has been scratched from the final of the $36,000 Group 2 Sir John Dillon Memorial after succumbing to a tail injury.

Trainer Shane Whitney made the decision after the tail became infected following a mishap in the kennels during the recent Sydney Cup.

“It was clear of a break and I thought if he could get through the Sir John Dillon heats I could get him right for the final,” said Whitney.

“I took him to the vet on Monday and unfortunately he’s picked up an infection."

The reigning Group 1 Sandown Cup winner is a winner of 21 of his 39 career starts and over $215,000 in prizemoney, and was a $2.25 favourite in the TAB pre-post market. He will now be set for the $36,000 Group 2 Bold Trease Carnival Cup to be run at Sandown Park on Schweppes Melbourne Cup night, Thursday 27 November.

“He’ll miss the Hume Cup at The Meadows, but he’s been up for a while and I was looking to give him a spell anyway,” said Whitney.

First reserve Wot Price Harold, winner of the 2007 Group 2 Great Chase over 525m at The Meadows will take Chinatown Lad’s place in the final.

The final of the Group 2 Sir John Dillon Memorial will be run at Sandown Park at 9.35pm on Thursday 16 October.