Malvern Estate ruled out of Cup

An unusual set of circumstances has denied the promising Malvern Estate a start in the $250,000 Magic Millions Provincial/Country Cup at the Gold Coast.

Trainer Desleigh Forster had been aiming Malvern Estate for Saturday’s Cup (1400m) since he ran second in a Doomben barrier trial in November.

The gelding has since lifted his record to seven starts for four wins and two seconds.

She nominated Malvern Estate for Saturday’s race but it was rejected because under the rules he had not started enough times at provincial or country tracks.

Malvern Estate won at the Sunshine Coast on Friday night and Forster believed that should have got him into the Cup field.

“It is really a strange series of events but I thought we had a case. I accepted with him at Toowoomba last Sunday and Beaudesert on the Monday,” Forster said.

“I scratched him from Toowoomba but then Beaudesert was washed out. If he had run in either of those he would have been eligible for the Cup.

“The nominations were due on Wednesday so I nominated him but it was rejected because he hadn’t run in enough races. They rejected my argument the wash-out had cost us a run and he would be running on Friday which should have made him eligible.”

Forster said the weights for the race were not out until Monday.

“Why couldn’t we be a late entry if the weights still aren’t out,” Forster said.

Malvern Estate will be set for a race at the Sunshine Coast on January 27.

Forster also has Bernborough Handicap winner Someday set for the Caloundra Cup on that day.