The Queensland winter carnival campaign has come at a heavy cost for brilliant pacer Soho Tribeca.
Having his first start in the Sunshine State last night (Saturday), Soho Tribeca finished near the rear of the field in the Gr.2 $50,540 Garrards Sunshine Sprint at Albion Park after being caught in heavy traffic from his second-line draw.
The millionaire pacer finished officially 10th behind Tact Tate but never got a chance to showcase his abundant talent at any stage.
And the news got a whole lot worse after the race.
The American Ideal entire appeared noticeably lame and was subject to a veterinary examination before trainer Mick Stanley headed to West Vets for further testing.
“He’s been diagnosed with a lateral condylar fracture to his offside front, he will undergo surgery and require at least six months off the scene.” A devastated Stanley said.
If successful next week in the Gr.1 $200,540 UBET Blacks A Fake Queensland Championship, the final leg of the 2017/18 Australian Pacing Gold Grand Circuit season, Soho Tribeca would’ve defeated now North American based champion Lazarus by a solitary point and therefore be crowned Grand Circuit champion.
Unfortunately, he won’t get that opportunity.
Also, Australasia’s fastest pacer My Field Marshal (1:46.9) is expected to start again next week despite finishing dead last in the Sunshine Sprint.
Caught wide throughout in the 1660m event, the Anthony Butt driven pacer finished some 24m from the winner, Tact Tate.
Trainer Tim Butt will have to make a decision quickly on whether to start his star four-year-old Let It Ride in the UBET Blacks A Fake Queensland Championship or stick to the original plan.
Let It Ride scored a strong victory in a support race last night and was being aimed at next week’s Gr.3 $30,540 4yo Championship but given the dramatic changes to the open class feature, a change could be imminent.
Fields for the final night of the Albion Park winter carnival will be declared tomorrow (Monday) with Racing Queensland.
Chris Barsby | RQ Web News | July 15 | Photo by Stuart McCormick