Vessem has been forced to miss the Nelson Cup witha foot abcess but Nathan is hoping he can win a race against time and make the Marlborough meeting next week.
“It will be a close run thing but it could work out for him. He deserves some better luck” says Nathan of the New Zealand Derby runner-up.
“He has never been troubled with his feet but he developed and abcess some weeks ago and we had to ease up on him. He bounced back from that and now it has returned. It is in the third day of treatment so if there are no more problems he could be all right for Blenheim”
Vessem, whose sire Vincent and dam Imke B are both former inmates of All Stars, is set for the Country Cups circuit in the immediate future. Hhis was hte run of the race at Motukarara at his last start,coming from last at the 800m to storm home for fourth.Due to age group condition races he had to wait 6 weeks between runs leading into the Cup meeting followed by the Dobson Classic leading into his big Derby run.
His connections claim long term association with the Purdon stable.
A definite decisions about an Australian campaign for Oscar Bonavena and Don’t Stop Dreaming will be made after tonight’s racing at Cambridge where Oscar Bonavena is odds-on but Don’t Stop Dreaming’s gate is a concern. He is the less likely of the two if there is any change to plans.
“As I have said a hit and run trip close to the Miracle Mile is probably ideal but we will see what develops tonight”