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Matakana on sidelines; Brambles retired; Possible Orr return for Entirely Platinum; Cobalt irregularities in Qld horses.

Matakana on sidelines

Talented filly Matakana has been ruled out of the Autumn and will miss the New Zealand Oaks following a back injury. The daughter of Mastercraftsman caught the eye when finishing fourth behind Platinum Witness in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas for Cambridge trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman.

"Unfortunately she hurt herself working on the plough and is back home spelling," owner Chris Grace said.

"We gave her a brief spell after the Guineas and the Oaks was the race she was being set for."

Grace reported that Wellington Cup disappointment Graphic would head towards the Gr.2 Go Racing Syndications Avondale Gold Cup ahead of a tilt at the Gr.1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup on March 4.

"He's a horse that has a few issues. After he won the Wellington Cup last year he had a chip removed from his knee and he had another hiccup in November."

Brambles retired

Queensland Derby winner Brambles has been retired following a recurrence of a tendon issue. The son of Savabeel took out the 2012 Derby for OTI Racing and Peter Moody, before enduring a two-year layoff through injury.

Nursed back to health by a former trotting trainer, Brambles recaptured some of his best form finishing third in last year's Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes and fourth behind Admire Rakti in the Caulfield Cup. Brambles retires with 6 wins from 20 starts for $825,258 earnings.

Possible Orr return for Entirely Platinum

Co-trainer John Hawkes has revealed that promising stayer Entirely Platinum is a chance of lining up in the Gr.1 Orr Stakes at Caulfield on February 14.

The son of Pentire was sent to the spelling paddock after he finished eighth behind Lucia Valentina in the Gr. 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 4, but he is edging closer to a return to racing.

“He is perhaps a touch more forward this campaign,” Hawkes said.

Entirely Platinium had an 800m jump-out at Flemington this morning under Dwayne Dunn and came through late to score by a length over Matalua in the time of 45.97 seconds.

Cobalt irregularities in Qld horses

Three Queensland thoroughbred trainers and three harness racing trainers have been notified of cobalt irregularities in tests returned by horses in their care.

Wade Birch, Racing Queensland's general manager of integrity, said nine tests had come back with high levels in the A samples.

Six of those were from three harness trainers and the other three from the thoroughbred trainers.

Birch said the names of the trainers would not be released and there was a presumption of innocence until the results of the confirmatory or B samples were known.

He also said there was no indication of widespread use in Queensland racing.