It did not take long for the harness racing rumour machine to again hit the New Zealand TAB Fixed Odds betting market regarding the $750,000 Mach Three-sponsored Inter Dominion Pacing Series.
The Tim Butt-trained Mister D G was listed as a $13 chance to win the Inter Dominion Pacing Final-but
had a question mark placed by his name- yesterday afternoon.
Butt recently decided a week ago to place Mister D G with Waiuku-based trainer Michelle Wallis. Wallis trains all her stable runners on a nearby beach and has a knack of getting the best out of unsound or injured racehorses.
However, there is nothing amiss with Mister D G.
"I just felt that the change of scenery and training a racehorse in a straight line down a beach during this lovely summer weather would be the ideal mental freshen up before competing in an Inter Dominion Series," said Butt.
"There's nothing wrong with the soundness or fitness of Mister D G at the moment. He has had some really tough racing this season at the New Zealand Cup Carnival, Miracle Mile and Treuer Memorial (Sydney), Auckland Cup and then we raced him in Melbourne last month.
"He's not a good standing start horse and he missed away in both the New Zealand and Hunter Cups and went massive races but those runs really knocked him.
"It's tough on every horse that has to compete in an Inter Dominion Carnival because they have to compete in three rounds of qualifying heats within one week.
"Then a week later you're competing in a Grand Final and it really knocks a lot of the racehorses as they're also racing away and out of their home environment.
"I arrive in Auckland on Monday morning and after the opening round of qualifying heats we'll review the situation regarding Mister D G and if he'll be left with Michelle or he'll rejoin the rest of my horses that are stabled at Barry Purdon's property."
- HERALD ON SUNDAY
