Exciting filly Najoom is out of Saturday’s Stradbroke Handicap at Doomben.
The Gai Waterhouse-trained three-year-old had been rated the $4 favourite for the $2 million Group 1 on the back of her last start victory in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic.
Trevor Lobb, CEO of Emirates Park Stud who owns the daughter of Northern Meteor, said Najoom would now either head to the Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara (1400m) on the Gold Coast in three weeks or to the paddock.
“She had minor setback and Gai’s just not 100% happy with her so we decided to pull the plug and see how she is next week,” Lobb said.
“It’s nothing serious but you don’t take on Group 1s if you’re not 100% happy.
“The filly comes first and her health and wellbeing is the main priority.”
The withdrawal of Najoom moves the Robert Smerdon-trained Lumosty a step closer to gaining a start in the final field of 16.
It has also resulted in Lumosty being promoted to $5 Stradbroke favourite with TAB.
