by Chris Barsby
Don’t expect to see Soho Tribeca amongst nominations for Saturday night’s Gr.1 $200,000 UBET Blacks A Fake at Albion Park.
Despite his outstanding victory over the weekend in the Gr.1 $120,000 Vicbred Super Series 4yo Final, the star pacer will return home.
Originally, owner Robert Watson and trainer/driver Kim Prentice were keen to start in the Sunshine State feature following the Melbourne raid but a number of issues during the past week have forced a change in plans.
“We were keen but the hoof abscess during the past week is the main reason why we’re keen to get back home and give him a four week break. It’s been a tough week for him and as much as we’d like to be competing in Brisbane, it just wouldn’t be fair on the horse.” Prentice said.
Soho Tribeca went unbeaten during his three start Melbourne campaign culminating in his dominant victory on Saturday night at TABCORP Park, Melton but it wasn’t seamless.
Following his victory in the semi-final a week earlier, the American Ideal entire pulled up noticeably lame owing to the hoof abscess.
The abscess burst during the week of the final and after undergoing a series of tests, he took his place in the final and duly saluted.
“It wasn’t an easy week for him but he showed his class and it was great to get the job done, the final didn’t go the way I expected but we got the right result.
“If we bypass Brisbane, he can have four weeks in the paddock before getting ready for the Inter Dominion series later this year.
“I believe that’s the right approach because the Inter looks like being a great series with the amount of depth in the open class ranks right now. I know I’m looking forward to it.”
The Blacks A Fake is final leg of the 2016/17 Australian Pacing Gold Grand Circuit series and will feature the likes of Lennytheshark, Hectorjayjay, My Field Marshal, Mach Doro and Tiger Tara among others.
Meanwhile, impressive three-year-old Gotta Go Ya Hu will also skip Brisbane this weekend.
Connections were eyeing the $75,000 Queensland Derby this weekend but following his victory at TABCORP Park, Menangle on Saturday night, the Big Jim gelding will now spell.
The former New Zealand pacer has won 4 of his 5 starts on Australian soil for Shane and Lauren Tritton.
The Queensland Derby is at the mercy of The More The Better following another crushing feature race victory at Albion Park on Saturday night.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
