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Sunday's $6.5 million International Bowl was hit last night by the withdrawal of troubled filly Oh Nellie, a leading contender for the 1,400-metre Group Two event before her nightmare flight from America.

 Oh Nellie, runner-up in the English 1,000 Guineas, was pulled out so treatment could begin to prevent her getting pneumonia.

 Her place goes to local sprinter Aggressive Dragon, trained by Tony Cruz, and British champion jockey Kieren Fallon will ride.

 Now without a mount in the race is Michael Kinane who flew out yesterday morning for Saudi Arabia to ride in a special invitation race in the desert kingdom.

 Due to fly in today is Michael Tabor, owner of Oh Nellie and one of the leading owners in Europe. He had been inspecting horses he owns on the United States west coast before flying to Hong Kong for the race.

 Senior vet Keith Watkins said: 'She is not a very sick horse at the moment but she could be. We must start treatment to prevent her possibly getting full-blown pneumonia.

 'We scoped her this morning and gave her a tracheal wash. Her lungs are infected and it was simply necessary that she be treated. The antibiotics would have ruled her out anyway but without them there is no way she could have raced.'  Oh Nellie, who has had a very good season in America, may remain in Hong Kong for some time and a return flight to America on Monday has been cancelled.

 A dreadful flight from America, which necessitated an 11-hour wait on the tarmac in Anchorage followed by a further delay in Tokyo, left Oh Nellie a sorry horse. An earlier temperature did abate but she became distressed afresh and the decision to pull her out became inevitable.

 Trainer Mark Johnston will be closely watching Vase contender Fruits Of Love in a special canter today after a 'freakish' incident yesterday.

 The Middleham trainer was shocked to see Fruits Of Love lame near fore when taken from his box yesterday.

 'He was lame, it was as simple as that. Nine times out of 10 it is a foot problem but seemingly not in this case. We called the vet and when he came and we walked and trotted him he was definitely a lot better,' said Johnston.

 A further vet inspection yesterday had Fruits Of Love cleared as not being lame but Johnston will canter him today under close scrutiny.

 'It's freakish. I have not seen anything quite like it and I just hope everything will be all right,' he said.

 Watkins later suggested it might have been a trapped nerve caused by Fruits Of Love remaining in one position for too long during the night.

 'I discussed it with Mark and it does sound something like that. You cannot really have a horse lame one minute and basically all right again a short time later,' said Watkins.

 The Jockey Club is tipping a Triple Trio payout that could reach $55 million on International Races Day - if there is one winning ticket.

 And the Club announced yesterday that selling hours at OCB centres would be extended to noon on Sunday instead of the usual cut-off time on the eve of a race meeting. Telebet facilities will also be extended until Sunday noon.



Oh Nellie's hellish flight ends in withdrawal from Bowl