By Michael Guerin
Two of the favourites for Grand Prix day at Addington on December 10 are set to miss the final major meeting of the season.
And while star pacer Chase A Dream will be back next season, juvenile trotting favourite Head Em Up won’t be. Well, at least not here.
The pair were among a number toward the head of the markets who will go to the spelling paddock or, in Head Em Up’s case, to Queensland.
“He has been sold and already left,” said trainer Paul Nairn, who also shared in the ownership of Head Em Up.
“He was actually sold after his race at Kaikoura but on the proviso he could race for us at his next start.
“That was only a few days later when he won the Trotting Stakes so it was a good deal for everybody
“They get a good horse and we got to win a nice race and got a fair price.”
Head Em Up isn’t the only talented two-year-old trotter who won’t be contesting races like the Lone Star Sires’ Stakes next week and Ace Of Clubs at the Grand Prix with John Dunn confirming both A Fine Patrick and Bounce N Beyond are heading for the paddock as well.
Last Tuesday’s stunning Sires’ Stakes winner Chase A Dream will also head to the paddock after a below par blood report on Monday, prompting trainers Mark and Nathan Purdon to pull the plug on his season.
“Both he and Vessem can go for a break because they have big three-year-old seasons ahead of them,” said Nathan Purdon.
Barry Purdon has already taken his two-year-old boys and girls home, headed by Cold Chisel, so they can also rest up and get ready for the first three-year-old features in the north in the New Year.
TAB bookies suspended many of the markets on Monday night.