One of the most cunning plans of Allan Sharrock's training career was torn to pieces yesterday as hot favourite Waisake had to be pulled out of Saturday's $300,000 Wellington Cup at Trentham.
His withdrawal just hours before final acceptances has left the race wide open and many futures punters licking their wounds.
Waisake started yesterday a $2.40 pre-draw favourite for the Cup but a reported injury either discovered or suffered in the morning saw him pulled out, causing an urgent resetting of the weights for the 3200m event.
It also bought to an end a lengthy campaign trainer Sharrock looked to have timed to perfection to secure Waisake back-to-back Wellington Cups.
The outstanding stayer had looked to be struggling in his races earlier this summer as Sharrock raced him back to fitness and then he started to get serious in the Trentham Stakes on January 15 when he added blinkers to Waisake's gear.