Champion trainer Andy Gath will play no part in the 2021 Inter Dominion Championships.
The Long Forest horseman has confirmed that he will not be taking a team to New South Wales for the series, which kicks off with opening round heats on November 27 at Tabcorp Park Menangle.
Gath had second favourite Majestuoso in the trotters’ division, but is opting to give the horse a little break following next Friday night’s $30,000 Breeders Crown Championship at Tabcorp Park Melton.
Fellow squaregaiting stablemates Tornado Valley – an ID winner in 2018 – McLovin and Havehorsewilltravel were all second-round acceptances for the series, but will not be tried in the time-honoured event this year.
Gath also had a strong hand in the pacing division, with Wolf Stride, Pacifico Dream and Tango Tara all possible starters.
Some injury issues have been discovered in Wolf Stride and he’s now spelling in New South Wales while Pacifico Dream is being saved for the Vicbred Super Series, which kicks off with heats just a few days after the Inter Dominion Grand Final on December 11.
Tango Tara is potentially racing well enough to be tried in the series, but with no stablemates making the trip, he too will stay home.
Phil Williamson-trained New Zealander Majestic Man is current favourite for the trotting division at $4 with the TAB, while Belinda McCarthy’s superstar King of Swing is a firm $2.40 chance to win the pacing decider.
