[magic_idol]

CAULFIELD Cup winner Tawqeet will miss Saturday week's $6.4 million Sheema Classic in Dubai because of an off foreleg tendon injury.
Trainer David Hayes last night all but conceded the trip to Dubai was off after Tawqeet developed heat and slight swelling in the foreleg. "It's a fait accompli really. We'll make a final decision in the morning after looking at scans, but it is very unlikely," Hayes said.
"You can't travel and go into world-class mile and a half races without working them.
"We've spoken to the Sheik (owner Sheik Hamdan) and he said to wait until the morning for a final decision, but I'm expecting to be calling him to say he isn't coming."
A frustrated Hayes said a decision on Tawqeet's spring campaign would be made in three or four days.
"Everything was dead right. We had done the right thing giving him just two runs here," he said.
Tawqeet was due to gallop at Moonee Valley yesterday morning in his final hitout before leaving for Dubai today.
Trainer Mick Price said Dubai Duty Free runner Pompeii Ruler had galloped well on Saturday morning and would leave for Dubai today.
"He worked super on Saturday," Price said.
He said the absence of Tawqeet as a travelling companion would not faze Pompeii Ruler.
"He's a quiet gelding with no vices. You would like a travelling companion, but I don't think it will worry him," Price said.
THE Kilmore meeting on Saturday and the Elmore Cup meeting at Bendigo on Saturday week have been transferred to Echuca because of the drought.
ROBERT Smerdon says the weights, to be released today, will decide whether he starts in-form stayer Hofmeister in Friday's Albury Cup (2000m).
Smerdon said he would prefer to run in the race as Damien Oliver would ride, but his other option for Hofmeister is the $100,000 Manion Cup (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
JOURNEYMAN jockey Terry Barry had a career-best day at Mildura yesterday, riding five consecutive winners. Barry rode the winners of races two to six: Diditformum, Piangil Gem, Day At The Races, Sassy Senorita and Merlins Express.
BRETT Prebble continued his stellar Hong Kong season by winning the Hong Kong Derby on the Paul O'Sullivan-trained Vital King on Sunday.