By Adam Hamilton
A WEEK of frustration has ended in heartbreak for the connections of star pacers My Field Marshal and Alta Orlando.
The NSW-trained pair travelled to Melbourne and were supposed to be a flight from there to Perth last Monday night.
Fast-forward four days, including a string of other cancelled flights, and are still stranded at Shepparton.
There last chance to get to Perth for tonight’s Group 1 Fremantle Cup was a scheduled midnight flight last night, but that was also cancelled.
It’s robbed WA’s second biggest race of its two glamour runners, who were the two favourites.
It’s now a locals-only affair with outsiders Our Jimmy Johnstone (gate four) and Our Corelli (five) gaining runs as the two emergencies.
If there’s any upside for WA officials, connections of both My Field Marshal and Alta Orlando remain committed to still flying across for next Friday’s Group 1 WA Pacing Cup.
“We tossed-up whether to stay and go to the Ballarat Cup, but the owners are still keen on Perth,” Alta Orlando’s driver Luke McCarthy said.
My Field Marshal’s trainer, Tim Butt, added: “We’re booked on flight every night between now and next week’s race, hoping one of them goes ahead.”
