Inter Dominion Trotting Championship favourite Bolt For Brilliance is out of next Saturday night’s Grand Final due to injury.
New Zealand harness racing journalist Michael Guerin reported this afternoon that the champion Kiwi squaregaiter would not run in the Group 1 showdown at Tabcorp Park Melton after the discovery of a pedal bone fracture.
Bolt For Brilliance produced a game run for second behind Just Believe in last night’s opening third round heat at Geelong, but was subsequently found to be lame in the near foreleg.
Harness Racing Victoria stewards ruled then that the Tony Herlihy-trained star would need a veterinary clearance prior to taking his place in the final.
“Very disappointed to report Inter Dominion trotting favourite Bolt For Brilliance has a pedal bone fracture and is out of the series and foreseeable racing future,” Guerin tweeted.
“Will need 6-8 weeks box rest but prognosis good that he can race again. Real shame for a bloody good, brave horse.”
Bolt For Brilliance opened a $3 pre-draw favourite for the Grand Final with the TAB after last night’s third round of heats.
He won his first ID22 qualifier at Ballarat on November 26 and was runner-up in subsequent runs at both Shepparton and Geelong to finish equal second on the series’ overall points standings.
Bolt For Brilliance is a 20-time winner from 46 career starts with over $700,000 in prizemoney.
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