Smolda will carry the hopes for Kiwi raiders Natalie Rasmussen and Mark Purdon after major drawcard Have Faith In Me was ruled out of the upcoming Perth TABtouch Inter Dominion series at Gloucester Park.
Have Faith In Me will be absent from Australasia’s richest harness racing prize and won’t join stable mate Smolda in Perth after galloping and finishing a disappointing 13th in the New Zealand Trotting Cup (3200m) on Tuesday.
“I’m not happy with him and I can’t put my finger on why and what’s going on,” Rasmussen said on TABradio’s The Sports Daily.
“We will get tests done and check him right over to make sure he is one hundred per cent before he lines up again.”
Have Faith In Me, a Miracle Mile and Auckland Cup winner, was overshadowed by stable mate, Lazarus, who produced a stunning performance to win the New Zealand Trotting Cup.
The four-year-old ran the fastest ever two miles in New Zealand, stopping the clock at a remarkable 3:53.1sec., and scoring by 10 lengths in one of the most memorable wins seen at Addington.
Smolda, who ran a distant fourth to Lazarus after working hard early in the race, is quoted a $21 chance in the Inter Dominions.
Hectorjayjay heads TAB betting at $3.60 with last year’s champion Lennytheshark a $3.80 chance. Ohoka Punter occupies the third line of betting at $8.
The Inter Dominion Series kicks off on Friday, November 25 at Gloucester Park, followed by the second round of heats at Bunbury on November 29, before returning to Gloucester Park for the third and final set of heats on December 2.
The $1.1 million dollar TABtouch final will be staged at Gloucester Park on Friday, December 9, supported by the $200,000 Retravision Golden Nugget for four-year-olds, the $125,000 Westral Mares Classic and the $50,000 Group One Clipsal Trotters Cup.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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