Blue Diamond Stakes contender Bodyguard scratched from $2 million contest

Blue Diamond Stakes contender Bodyguard has been scratched — and his trainer Peter Snowden isn’t happy.

Mark Zahra aboard Bodyguard aftert the Blue Diamond Prelude. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Blue Diamond Stakes fancy Bodyguard has been scratched — and his trainer isn’t happy.

A panel of vets inspected the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained colt on Friday for the second time in 24 hours and could not be satisfied with his condition.

Bodyguard displayed signs of lameness upon the first inspection on Thursday.

READ | ‘This colt will go bang in the straight and win the Blue Diamond’

Three vets, two from RV and one independent, re-examined the Blue Diamond Prelude winner on Friday.

“The colt had not improved and again presented with lameness,” RV said in a statement on Friday.

Three wide, no worries.

Bodyguard is a serious colt ⭐️ @[e-mail]/GSm94ItLDS

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) February 10, 2024

“Accordingly, Bodyguard will be withdrawn from the race by RV Stewards acting on veterinary advice.”

Co-trainer Peter Snowden told Racenet on Friday it was disappointing to have to scratch Bodyguard on race eve.

“Bodyguard has trotted up consistently, we feel he has trotted up exactly the same and I don’t think there is any change in the horse,’’ Snowden said.

“His work has been outstanding, he won his first start here brilliantly, so it is disappointing for us to accept this decision but it is what it is, we will cop it on the chin.

“We still have High Octane and Fearless so we are grateful we still have two good chances in the race.’’

First emergency In Her Eyes, trained by Leon and Troy Corstens, will now gain a start in the race.

READ | ‘A bit stressful’: Laurie opens up about colt’s $15m Diamond mission

Blue Diamond hopefuls Zestiman, trained by Ben, JD and Will Hayes, and South Australian visitor Kuroyanagi, prepared by Will Clarken and Nikki O’Shea, were inspected for the first time on Friday and passed suitable to race.

Bodyguard is the third high profile Blue Diamond contender to be ruled out on the eve of the stallion making race in recent years, following Lofty Strike (2022) and Jukebox (2017).

Originally published as Blue Diamond Stakes contender Bodyguard scratched from $2 million contest