Marasco has been ruled out of Perth’s summer carnival after being operated on for the removal of bone chips from his knee at Murdoch University on Tuesday.

Marasco (Scenic) was expected to be a major player during Perth’s Festival of Racing for trainer Fred Kersley and Oakland Park owner-breeder Neville Duncan but he will be off the scene for at least six months.

“He is recovering well from the operation,” Kersley told perthracing.com.au.  “I am not sure how long he has been troubled by the problem.  Maybe the heavy weights and the soft tracks in Brisbane could have caused it.”

Marasco won the 2006 Winterbottom Stakes (G2) and ventured east the following year for a career-high victory over Apache Cat in the Makybe Diva Stakes (G2) at Flemington.

“At seven years of age, it is not the best thing to be happening to the horse,” Kersley added.  “Hopefully he will make it back to the top level.”

Marasco has won 14 races from 35 starts and has accrued over $1.5 million in prize money.