Racing: May relinquishes drive behind top stayer

Terror To Love. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Trainer Graham Court has three tasks with embattled pacing star Terror To Love this week, but the most important one concerns driver Ricky May.

Court wants to ensure fans of the great pacer know May has stood himself down from the Inter Dominion drive on the champ, rather than being sacked.

May told Court he would rather he found another driver for this week's Inter Dominion heat at Menangle after the pair were again luckless in the Hunter Cup on Saturday night.

Terror To Love dropped out after being parked on a red hot pace, with May doing nothing wrong in a race that simply didn't go their way.

That has been a recurring theme in Australia for the pair, with Terror To Love dogged by terrible draws, with May's only real tactical error coming in December's four-horse Ballarat Cup.

However, frustrated by his lack of luck with Terror To Love in Australia, May asked to get off the millionaire stallion, who will be driven by leading Sydney horseman Blake Fitzpatrick this Saturday and almost certainly in the A$750,000 Interdom Final on March 1.

"We want to make sure everybody knows this was Ricky's choice," says Court. "I haven't been unhappy with his drives, he has just been a victim of circumstance but Rick was good enough to suggest trying somebody else.

"That is the sort of guy he is and Blake is a Menangle local and drives the track well."

So with that clarified and a new driver booked, Court now has a few precious days to resurrect the three-time New Zealand Cup winner before he clashes with Christen Me in the Inter heat on Saturday night.

The Kiwi pair are likely to only need a top-three finish to secure their places in the final, for which Christen Me remains the $4 favourite.

"He [Terror To Love] was a tired horse after Saturday's race and spent a lot of time lying down on Sunday, but he is bouncing back now and we can have him ready for the Interdom," says Court.

Meanwhile, leading 3-year-old Follow The Stars is expected to return to Auckland to contest the Woodlands Northern Derby on March 6, rather than the NSW Derby five days earlier.

With Hughie Green likely to resume at Alexandra Park this Friday and the likes of Have Faith In Me, Hug The Wind and Express Stride also heading for the Derby, it is shaping as a strong edition of the classic.