The career of champion squaregaiter Tornado Valley remains alive, with plans to continue racing despite a disappointing performance in the TAB Australian Trotting Grand Prix.
The horse pulled up sharply in the feature at Tabcorp Park Melton last weekend, which was his first run since an amazing Group 1 double in the Great Southern Star series during early February.
After drawing the back row, Tornado Valley was sent forward and sat parked for much of the last lap but faded significantly in the home straight to finish eighth, beaten more than 16m by Majestic Man.
Regular driver Kate Gath, the wife of trainer Andy, told thetrots.com.au that the nine-year-old had some joint issues, but would be aimed at a return in the coming weeks.
“We’ve tended to those and we will just press on,” she said.
“We think that the treatment will help and we will give him another start. Hopefully it helps and the plan is to continue at this stage.”
Tornado Valley is nearing the $1million mark in stake earnings with 10 Group 1 triumphs, the equal most by any trotter in Australia since 2001.
His win in last month’s Great Southern Star was a comeback fairytale, with Gath admitting she had thought the gelding should have been retired before his remarkable performances.
The stable has also scratched Majestuoso and Havehorsewilltravel from the Group 1 Trotters Mile at Menangle this Saturday night.
Gath said Majestuoso had some feet issues and that Havehorsewilltravel was suffering from a virus, with both to be spelled.