By Michael Guerin
Tact McLeod may be racing well enough to win his way into the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup but there is no guarantee he would even start in the great race.
The southern five-year-old was enormous returning with a win at Addington on Friday night, overcoming an early check and then being sent on a mission from the 600m to overpower Betterthancash and Charlie Brown in the IRT.Your Horse.Our Passion Handicap Pace.
His 3:14.2 winning time and closing sectionals were in keeping with most of the other open class races in the south this season and Tact McLeod should have plenty of improvement to come.
So if he backs up in next Friday’s Canterbury Classic you could make a case he can run top three and that would earn him a backdoor entry in to the Cup.
Trainer Trevor Proctor told HRNZ back in June he would love that option but he said after Friday night’s win in the hands of John Morrison there is no certainty Tact McLeod would start in the Cup if he gets in.
“We won’t have to worry about that unless he qualifies and we could talk it over then,” says Proctor.
“I’d love to see him in the Cup but maybe this year would be a year too soon.
“So we will see how the next month goes.”
Proctor says that decision would also need to be made with caretaker trainer Mark Jones, who is now doing most of the work with Tact McLeod.
“I got him part of the way ready then sent him to Mark and he basically trains him now,” says Proctor.
“I come up to see him and am here tonight so I can still officially be his trainer but I am three wins short of 50 career wins and I’d love to get there.
“If and when I do then I’d put him in Mark’s name while he is up here staying with him.”
Tact McLeod has developed into a physically imposing gelding and while he may not be this season’s New Zealand Cup winner he could pick up a lesser cup or two in the next six months as he learns the open class ropes.
He continued a good night for those from the bottom half of the South Island after Empire City took out the $60,000 Macca Lodge Sires’ Stakes Fillies Classique for the trotting fillies.
Like Tact McLeod she was fresh up but that didn’t deter Ricky May from rushing forward on her early and punters felt on pretty good terms with themselves when she led and got an easy time.
She shot clear at the top of the straight and had the race won but runner-up Fear And Faith flew at her late, suggesting she is a filly to follow.
Empire City’s win was still outstanding considering she started from barrier 9 and hadn’t even trialed so she is a huge factor in all our major trots and the win saw her move into $5 for the $500,000 Ascent Slot Race at Addington on November 15.
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