Livia to miss Oaks
05/11/2009 7:49 AM
Faint Perfume's stranglehold on Thursday's $1 million Crown Oaks (2500 metres) has strengthened with the withdrawal of David Hayes' sole entry Livia.
Livia hasn't recovered sufficiently from a hoof injury and Hayes had no option but to scratch her.
It is the second Group 1 blow in three days for Hayes after stewards ordered the withdrawal of Changingoftheguard from Tuesday's Melbourne Cup despite Hayes' protestations that the horse was fit to run.
Faint Perfume is a long odds-on favourite to continue Bart Cummings' stellar spring and give him his ninth win in the fillies' classic.