Every time trainer Andy Gath gears up remarkable trotter Tornado Valley for race night nowadays the champion horseman admits to feeling a level of “anxiousness”.
A 10-time Group 1-winning trotter, Tornado Valley is 10 years old.
On Friday night, he lines up in the What The Hill Great Southern Star where he will be chasing a third successive win in Australia’s premier trotting event.
“Every time we take Tornado Valley to the races, he’s been such a great horse for us, obviously he’s getting on in years… I get a little anxious because I don’t like to see him fail,” Gath told SENTrack’s Bensley program this morning.
“His last two runs (this time in) have been good, his work at home has been good and I’m happy with him, but always in the back of my mind is I don’t want to embarrass the horse’s career.
“I do take him to the races confident that he’ll put his best foot forward though.”
Gath also lines up rising squaregaiting superstar Majestuoso and his latest ex-Kiwi import Vacation Hill in the unique series, which sees two $50,000 Group 1 heats contested early on Friday night’s program before a $300,000 Final late on the card.
Listen to the full Andy Gath interview below:
Picture: Trainer Andy Gath, driver Kate Gath and champion trotter Tornado Valley will be chasing a third straight win in the What The Hill Great Southern Star at Tabcorp Park Melton on Friday night. By Stuart McCormick
