WICHITA has become the second international import to be euthanised this spring. Having had surgery at the University of Melbourne Equine Centre after injuring his off-hind in a gallop earlier this month, the Aidan O’Brien-trained 2000 Guineas placegetter couldn’t be saved at Lloyd Williams Macedon Lodge property where the No Nay Never colt was recuperating.

“Acting on the advice of stable veterinarians, the connections advise that Wichita was humanely euthanised on Friday, October 23 as a result of the complications encountered in its recovery,” read a Racing Victoria statement.

The previous week, on October 16th, the former George Boughey-trained Involved, who had been bought by an Australian Bloodstock-led syndicate to be trained by Ciaron Maher and Dave Eustace had to be put down after breaking two sesamoid bones in his near-fore during a gallop at Werribee.

“As is standard practice, RV (Racing Victoria) Veterinary Services are conducting a fatality review that will include a post mortem and a review of the horse’s medical history and training regime,” said the press release. “The preliminary veterinary advice is that the Werribee track, rated a Soft 6 on the day, was unlikely to have played any role in the horse’s injury.”

WHILE the prestige Group 1 racing is at Flemington on Saturday with the running of the Victoria Derby, the money, most definitely is in Sydney. Rosehill, with reduced crowds on-course, will host the second running of the A$7.5 million Golden Eagle over 1,500 metres.

Run under set-weights for four-year-olds, it is now Australia’s third richest race and will boast a capacity field of 18. Richard Hannon, Michael O’Callaghan and Aidan O’Brien had starters last year, but no internationals compete this year. Last year’s victor was the Epsom Handicap winner Kolding, and that form holds true with this year’s Epsom runner-up Funstar favourite ahead of the cult horse Alligator Blood. Funstar will need luck though as the track is rated heavy and she is drawn in 18.