The Mark Kavanagh-trained Dr Doute's is ready for his return to racing at Flemington after a flying horseshoe nearly cost him the sight in one eye.The dual stakeswinner has won five of his 14 starts but his career looked all but over when the shoe flew up and hit him in his eye, cutting his spring campaign to just two runs last October."It was a bad injury and he nearly lost the eye," stable manager Merv Harvey said."He was in and out of the vet clinic for two months trying to get it fixed."Even
The Mark Kavanagh-trained Dr Doute's is ready for his return to racing at Flemington after a flying horseshoe nearly cost him the sight in one eye.
The dual stakeswinner has won five of his 14 starts but his career looked all but over when the shoe flew up and hit him in his eye, cutting his spring campaign to just two runs last October.
"It was a bad injury and he nearly lost the eye," stable manager Merv Harvey said.
"He was in and out of the vet clinic for two months trying to get it fixed."
Eventually connections got the positive outcome they were hoping for and the four-year-old will resume in Saturday's Melbourne Cup Community Fund Handicap (1400m).
Harvey said Dr Doute's was a quality horse and probably the best-performed horse running at Flemington on Saturday, but the key was getting him to settle in his races.
He said last campaign his habit of "charging", which had developed as he got older, was worse than ever and that there was little a jockey could do about it.
"When he charges and you try to restrain him the saddle slips forward," Harvey said.
"One day Michael (Rodd) rode him and the saddle ended up on his wither."
Dr Doute's is still an entire and Harvey said that was the foundation of his charging problem.
He said that a lot of work had gone in to trying to mend the ways of the son of Redoute's Choice and, while the signs were encouraging, the test would come when Steve Arnold rides him for the first time at Flemington.
"Steve rode him in a jumpout for us a couple of weeks ago and he settled good for him so hopefully he will do the same again tomorrow," Harvey said.
Dr Doute's best win was the Group Three Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Flemington in November 2008. His other stakes win was the Listed Adelaide Stakes (1600m) in March last year.
He was only warming up last spring when he tried to lead all the way in the Listed Herald Sun Stakes (1400m) and weakened to finish third to Raheeb and Rightfully Yours.
"No doubt the horse is a talent but he has been his own worst enemy," Harvey said.
"There looks to be good speed in the race on Saturday which suits him and if he behaves and stands up he might go to Queensland.
"There are a lot of options for him and he probably gets his chance to win a good race up there."