Three horses have been withdrawn from the SENTrack Inter Dominion series following the opening round of heats in Ballarat on Saturday night.
David Miles-trained Focus Stride (pictured) has been removed from the pacing qualifiers, while Rickie Alchin’s Watts Up Majestic and Emma Stewart’s Beefour Bacardi are out of the trotting division.
Following his ninth placing behind Act Now on Saturday night, Miles confirmed an endoscopic examination of Focus Stride was performed. As a consequence of the findings, including mucus being identified, the decision was made to withdraw the horse from the 2022 Inter Dominion Pacing Championship.
Alchin informed Harness Racing Victoria stewards that it was his intention to take out Watts Up Majestic from the trotting heats due to the gelding’s tough run on Saturday night and with connections feeling that his welfare might be at risk by continuing the preparation.
He was then withdrawn from his heat at Shepparton Tuesday night, where he was drawn alongside Beefour Bacardi.
Connections of Beefour Bacardi took out their horse from the series after a disappointing run on Saturday night when ninth behind Ofortuna and for a belief that he would not likely back-up and perform competitively on Tuesday.
Read more on the three horses in the HRA media room and in the stewards’ report from Ballarat.
