DERBY favourite Deerfield was evacuated yesterday from trainer Alex Wong Yu-on's stable where 10 horses are on the sick list.
The budding champion was transferred to a box in the stable of neighbouring trainer Peter Ng Bik-kuen.
The precautionary move was another chapter in Deerfield's traumatic preparation for the $3.5 million Derby on March 7 which looks like continuing right up to the eve of the Classic.
For, after suffering two bouts of the virus and having quickly recovered from a mysterious back complaint, he now has a minor hoof problem and trainer Wong is awaiting veterinary permission for the horse to race in the Derby wearing a specially imported aluminim shoe.
The American-bred four-year-old has developed a quarter crack in his heel and Wong is seeking the special Australian aluminium bar plate to give the heel support.
''It's the first time such a plate has been brought here although it is common in Australia. I have to show it to the vet and get approval to fit it on the horse.
''The small crack is not bad but you don't want to take any chances and fitting him with this bar shoe would be a definite help. At the moment we are also restricting him to slow pacework but he is fit enough anyway,'' said Wong.