Slade Power’s Sprint Bid in Doubt

SLADE POWER’S SPRINT BID IN DOUBT 
Slade Power (Ire) (Dutch Art {GB})’s participation in the G1 VRC Sprint in Australia Nov. 8 is in doubt after trainer Eddie Lynam discovered that his dual Group 1 winner would not be able to be loaded last in the gates. The 5-year-old is notorious for his bad gate behavior, and Lynam revealed that Slade Power acted up in the gates at Flemington prior to a barrier trial Tuesday. 

“He had a barrier trial [Tuesday] and, unfortunately, things didn’t go good for him,” Lynam explained. “He got very upset in the barrier. He’s got a couple of nicks and a couple of cuts, but hopefully he’s going to be okay.” 
Lynam said he had spoken to Melbourne officials before making the trip, and was under the impression Slade Power would be able to be loaded last, despite the custom in that country that horses be loaded in order of barrier. Lynam noted that the last time Slade Power wasn’t loaded last was for last year’s G1 Nunthorpe S., when he acted up and finished 15th of 17. 

“From our point of view, if he wasn’t to go in late on the big race day, I’d have to think of it as a health-and-safety issue, as he could hurt [jockey] Wayne [Lordan], and we don’t want that happening,” the conditioner told At The Races. “He could also hurt himself, and we don’t want that happening, either. He could also hurt the horses each side of him. I just don’t think we’re going to be able to teach him some new tricks in the week that’s leading up to what is his career-final race.” 

Lynam said that if Slade Power does not run in Australia, he could reroute to the G1 Hong Kong Sprint in December, or be retired. He is set to stand at Darley’s Kildangan Stud in Ireland next year. 
“Let’s see what happens tomorrow first before we make any decisions,” Lynam added. “Hopefully common sense will prevail.”