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Sacred Master’s next preparation will decide the future of the Group winner.
The six-year-old failed to flatter in four appearances during the Queensland winter carnival and will spell there before returning home to Tony Pike’s stable.
“He’s having a month off and then we’ll see if we can get him operational again on the better ground in the summer,” the Cambridge trainer said.“Obviously, he’s been disappointing but the tracks over there were no help at all.
“As an older horse that’s had a tendon injury he may have just been looking after himself. I couldn’t fault his work and he’s as sound as a bell.”Sacred Master has won seven times, including the Gr.2 Avondale Cup (2400m) and finished third for Pike in the Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m).The Mastercraftsman gelding also triumphed in the Gr.3 Newcastle Cup (2200m) during a stint with Chris Waller.
Pike enjoyed a successful Queensland carnival with The Bostonian undefeated in three appearances, including the Gr.3 Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m) and Terra Sancta also winning three times.“They are both spelling over there and they’ll all come home together,” he said.
However, another member for the travelling party will remain in Australia.“Sacred Rebel will stay over there and he’ll probably go to Chris Waller, there’s not a lot for him here,” Pike said.
The son of Sepoy was a first-up winner at Caloundra and following an unplaced run at Doomben he was a last-start fourth back at Caloundra.