Racing: Injured De Lovely to miss rest of season

Champion mare De Lovely (9) is out for the rest of the season. Photo / Richard Robinson

Champion mare De Lovely is out for the rest of the season just in time to throw the markets for the Harness Jewels into confusion.

The glamour pacer will miss not only this Friday's $100,000 Taylor Mile at Alexandra Park but the Harness Jewels at Ashburton on June 4 and is unlikely to race again until starting a New Zealand Cup preparation.

Trainer Ian Small has confirmed the 4-year-old pacing sensation has undergone an operation to remove a small bone chip from a knee and won't be seen again this term.

"Hopefully, it is not a long-term problem but at best we will see her back for a New Zealand Cup campaign," said the South Auckland horseman. "But she is so good we will give her the time and let her tell us when she is healed and ready.

"If that means he next big targets becomes the Auckland Cup next season then so be it."

De Lovely has not raced since finishing unplaced in the Auckland Cup last month but had earlier recorded four sizzling wins this season.

And with our open-class ranks is need of a rebuild after the Interdominions, she rates as one of the potential superstars next season.

News of her season-ending injury came the same day as the TAB released its odds for the Harness Jewels.

TAB bookmaker Steve Richardson suspended the market for the 4-year-old mares' division, which is likely to reopen today with Lancome as the warm favourite.

She and most of the other gun 4-year-olds in the country clash in the Taylor Mile on Friday night, with the field having a future New Zealand Cup look about it.

Four Interdominion contenders return, headed by Smiling Shard, who has drawn handy on the second line on Friday night.

But he faces a big task against a field that also contains Gomeo Romeo, Mach Banner, Franco Emirate, Choise Achiever, Five Star Anvil, Courage To Rule and Devil Dodger.

Friday night's meeting also sees the $200,000 Sales Series Pace for juvenile fillies in which favourite Dancing Diamonds faces a second-line draw.

A superb field of 3-year-old trotters contests their Sires' Stakes Final and the open-class trotters prepare for next week's Rowe Cup, with Sovereignty, Raydon and Dr Hook squaring off.

Meanwhile, the biggest shock in the first Harness Jewels markets was star two-year-old trotter Flying Isa only being rated the $3.50 second favourite for his division.

A sparkling workout from Regal Petite has seen her rated the surprise $2.50 favourite in that grade.

Other favourites include Smiling Shard, Fly Like An Eagle, Veste and Vulcan, although with group one races every weekend for the next four weeks the markets have plenty of scope for change.