Everyone can breathe a sigh of relief.
Because harness racing’s fighting warrior, Destreos is all OK and just having a week off racing.
When fields were released yesterday (Tuesday) for Albion Park Harness Racing Club on Saturday night, the free-for-all over 1660m did not feature the ageing marvel.
Yes, an open class sprint event at the metropolitan club with no Destreos is a rarity.
But a certain condition placed on the race this week was enough to keep Destreos at home in his box.
“I thought long and hard about starting him again this weekend but the condition of preferential draw on prizemoney earnt at their last three starts tuned me off because we we’re going to draw bad. A Saturday night open should be just that, open and I decided against starting him because of that clause.” Trainer Ken Rattray said.
Last Saturday night, the 12-year-old gelding led throughout to score by a nose margin to register his 88th career victory while 67 of those triumphs have come at Albion Park.
His record at Albion Park stands alone and will never be equaled or bettered.
And if you’re wondering, he pulled up an absolute treat following his success last week.
“He came home and licked his bowl clean and was full noise on Sunday as he was yelling out to his mates, he’s in really good shape and taking no harm from racing currently. There is no possible way you could him pick for his age.
“I actually looked at taking him to Menangle this weekend but preference was being given to those who have raced there during the past couple of weeks in qualifying races so that kept him us at home. The fact we’re getting closer to start number 400 is probably another reason it was best to keep him at home because that occasion will be carried out at Albion Park.
“I’m hoping there is a mid-week open next week and then we can back him up on Saturday week, which will have us at 399. He’ll have a very light week this week and then he’ll be good to go for next week, it’s pretty basic with him nowadays.”
Another veteran in the care of Rattray that continues to defy retirement is Funny Boy, the 11 year-old gelding celebrated a milestone moment last Saturday night when scoring his 40th career victory.
The Artiscape gelding sat parked to beat race favourite Broadway Playboy in a time of 1:54.5 which is 0.1 seconds outside his ‘PB’ mark of 1:54.4.
And joining the stable last week from Sydney is The Dip after he was claimed last Friday at Menangle by stable client Doug Spice.
Hailing from the famed Scuse Me family, The Dip has won 17 of his 124 career starts while amassing more than $150,000 in prizemoney.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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