Ignatius to miss Launceston hit-out

Star Tasmanian pacer Ignatius is an early scratching from Friday night’s Launceston Pacing Club meeting.

Trainer Todd Rattray made the decision tonight after he examined the results of blood tests showing the young champion had not fully recovered from a slight infection.

“He’s not far off being ready to start him but we wouldn’t knowingly start any horse that wasn’t 100% right so there will be no risks taken,” said a disappointed trainer.

“We were looking forward to seeing him race here in Tasmania in preparation for another mainland campaign but time is against now for that to happen.”

Ignatius (pictured), the reigning Tasmanian Horse of the Year and New South Wales Three-Year-Old of the Year, is being set for next month’s $200,000 Chariots Of Fire at Menangle Park in Sydney.

“Tonight’s issue is a set back for sure, not a major one but a set back all the same, when you are coming up against the best horses in Australia everything needs to be going well, not mishaps here and there along the way,” said Todd.

“We are planning on a direct trip to Sydney with him and that just doesn’t happen by clicking your fingers, we were hoping to give him one run here at home but that may be tricky now, he’ll have to have a run prior to the heats of the Chariots so we will just have to play it by ear and see how it pans out.”