Dual code meetings at Avondale have thrown up few debut stars, but today's was about to.
About to, that was, until Lovetrista, the filly with the million-dollar pedigree, picked up an infection and was declared a non-runner by trainer John Sargent.
Sargent was desperate for Lovetrista to racetoday because the timing was perfect to propel the Rock Of Gibraltar-Tritalove filly into the $120,000 Robin, Duke Of Bedford Matamata Breeders Stakes on February 24.
That now leaves only one option: a less-than-perfect debut run in a juvenile event at Rotorua on February 14.
"There's no way you can go in to tackle a horse like Crossyourheart without a race and this one would have been ideal," a very disappointed Sargent said yesterday afternoon when he received his veterinarian report.
Sargent said he knew something was amiss when he discovered yesterday morning that Lovetrista had left half her overnight feed.
"She never leaves anything," he said.
The filly had a temperature and a blood test revealed a high white cell reading.
"It's not viral; she's obviously picked up a bug. You couldn't race her unless she was 100 per cent, but she's likely to be fine in the morning."
Lovetrista, from a daughter of Railway winner Diamond Lover, showed the family speed when she had to change legs, change ground and sprint quickly in the extremely short Te Awamutu straight before easily winning a barrier trial on January 23.
The dash she displayed in that trial was remarkable.
Sargent says he will discuss the problem with breeder and owner Sir Patrick Hogan.
"We either run her at Rotorua then at Matamata or ease her and set for the Sires Produce."
