A muscle problem has put a start in doubt for New Zealand stayer Kaapstad Way in Sunday's $HK10 million Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Hong Kong.
Waikato trainer Chris Wood said the muscle problem was known as tying up and it could have developed from the horse not having the freedom in Hong Kong that he is used to.
"It's pretty confined up here, he's not used to that," Wood said from Hong Kong.
"He's tying up a little bit at the moment and we are just trying to get ahead of that."
Wood said nothing special could be done this close to the race and he was hopeful the problem would come right.
"He's having fluids and everything - just having a general treatment," he said. "We are just trying to get on top of it. We are struggling a bit at the moment - we are making slow progress."
Wood said the prospect of a start should be clearer by tonight.
"As far as we are concerned we would like to run him but if he's not right he won't be running.
"We had blood tests taken him off him today and we will get the results of them back tonight and we'll see were we are.
"We'll know more in the next 24 hours what we are up to."
Kaapstad Way drew barrier eight in the 14-horse field at yesterday's barrier draw function.
Wood said the draw was of little concern as the horse normally gets back in the running.
Kaapstad Way has won over $A1 million ($1.25 million) in stakes this season with placings in some of Australia's major races.
At his last start he was second in the group one $A1 million weight-for-age Mercedes Classic (2400m) at Rosehill in Sydney on April 7.
Earlier this season he included a second in the Caulfield Cup, fourth in the Melbourne Cup and third in the Australian Cup.
Former New Zealand galloper Helene Vitality and Idol had mixed fortunes with the draw.
Helene Vitality, who was known as Hades in New Zealand and was the winner of the 1999 New Zealand Derby for Matamata trainer Roger James, drew well at six.
Idol, however, drew the outside barrier of 14. Idol ran third to Hades in the New Zealand Derby and was also trained at Matamata, by Jim Gibbs.
The field with barrier draws is:-
Queen Elizabeth II Cup, $HK10,000,000, w-f-a, 2000m:- Caitano GER (5), Daliapour HK (4), Electronic Unicorn HK (3), Emission AUS (10), Helene Vitality HK (6), Housemaster HK (1), Idol HK (14), Indigenous HK (2), Industrial Pioneer HK (12), Jim And Tonic FR (11), Kaapstad Way NZ (8), Oriental Express HK (7), Silvano GER (13), Sobieski UAE (9).
- NZPA
Racing: Doubts over NZ stayer in Hong Kong
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