SUPERSTAR trotter Keystone Del is primed to regain his crown as Australasia’s best trotter.
It’s been revealed the gelding battled a torn kidney through the Great Southern Star series when he ran second in a heat and seventh in the final on March 7.
Before the series, Keystone Del ranked alongside Stent as the best on either side of the ditch.
Stent’s dominance of the Great Southern Star and subsequent Kiwi triumphs took him to a level of his own.
Molander’s husband, Dean, said he and Nicole knew something wasn’t right at Great Southern Star time with Keystone Del.
“We couldn’t get him back to the level he’d been at, but we couldn’t work out why,” Dean said.
“The big races were there and we had to have a shot at them.”
Straight after Keystone Del ran a mile below his best in the Star final, the Molander’s took their stable star to the renowned Werribee Veterinary Clinic.
After exhaustive tests, Keystone Del’s tear in a left kidney was uncovered.
“It took quite some finding,” Dean said. “When you know he had that, it makes some of his runs quite amazing.
“He was treated and they said I was just a matter of giving him time to heal with a spell.”
More than four months later and Keystone Del returns to the races in the Sumthingaboutmaori free-for-all (2240m) at Melton on Friday night.
He’s drawn five in a six-horse race, two of which are Keystone Del’s stablemates – Monorail (two) and Lord Liam (four).
Keystone Del sharpened-up for his return with a low-key trial at Melton today (Tuesday).
“We dropped him out early and just let him run home. He finished-off in 58sec, but did it easily and was hard-held,” Dean said.
“That said, we don’t think there will be much at all between Lord Liam and Keystone Del this week.
“Lord Liam’s two runs back have been outstanding and he’s race fit, while Keystone Del is always a bit vulnerable first-up. If he’s going to get beaten, it’s usually when he’s fresh.”
Molander said the honest Monorail was “probably a notch below this class.”
Lord Liam followed a slashing first-up second with a dominant Melton win last week.
“We really like him. Next season will be his season. We think he’ll be right up to all the good races,” Dean said.
In other stable news, Molander’s recent Vicbred final winner Reina Danzante – who boasts three wins from just four starts – could tackle the boys in the Group 1 Victoria Trotters’ Derby on August 2.
“We’re tossing-up whether to go against the boys, or keep for a fillies’ race during that Maryborough carnival,” Dean said.
“The way she’s improved since coming to our stable has been amazing. Her attitude is her best asset and we think she’d love the 2600m of the Derby if we go that way.”
SYDNEY Inter Dominion runner-up Flaming Flutter gets his chance to return to winning form in Friday’s Our Maestro free-for-all (2240m) at Melton.
The Geoff Webster-trained star ran on well, but couldn’t quite overrun Philadelphia Man when he resumed with a second at Melton last week.
There’s no Philadelphia Man this week, but Flaming Flutter does have to overcome gate five in a handy field where the major rivals are: Keayang Starzzz (three), Lets Elope (six), Five Star Anvil (10) and Franco Ledger (12).
CLASSY former Kiwi juvenile Code Black makes his Victorian debut for new trainer Beau Tindale in the Tatlow Stakes at Melton on Friday night.
Code Black tackled a string of hot juvenile races in NZ and posted two wins from nine runs before being sold.
He’s looked sharp winning recent trials at Geelong and Melton, but faces a cracking field from a wide draw (gate five) at his Aussie debut.
The major rivals will be: Zee Dana (one), Christmas Jolt (three), Shadow Sax (seven), Motu Gatecrasher (10) and Born To Rocknroll (11).
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