McLovin’s out but wants into Inters series

It wouldn’t be an Inter Dominion Series without some last minute controversy and it again materialised on the eve of Auckland’s 2019 edition.

The series’ fourth trotters favourite, McLovin, was yesterday scratched from tonight’s first round of the Trotting Championship heats at Alexandra Park after falling ill.

His Victorian trainer, Andy Gath, says the son of Monarchy broke out in a fever.

‘‘He didn’t eat up last night and had a really high temperature this morning (Thursday),’’ Gath told HRNZ.

‘‘So, I got him treated with medication which has ruled him out of tomorrow night.’’

But he is still not officially ruled out of the series.

Gath was hoping that McLovin could re-enter the series on Tuesday for the second round of heats, something which is technically possible under the series conditions.

‘‘To be eligible to compete in the Grand Final of the Trotting Championship, horses shall start in all Qualifying Heats, unless exemption is granted by the Host Controlling Body, which shall decide upon each case according to its merits,’’ reads the relevant condition.

The host controlling body is

Harness Racing New Zealand and they will decide before Tuesday’s second round of heats are drawn up tomorrow.

HRNZ handicapper Andrew Morris said he would consult with the Racing Integrity Unit and the Inter Dominion Council and a decision would be made..

The Inter Dominion Council includes both HRNZ’s CEO, Peter Jensen, and his Harness Racing Australia counterpart, Andrew Kelly. The Racing Integrity Unit’s Nick Ydgren said he had been contacted by Gath for clarification on withholding periods but had not benn told what specific medications were administered.

Gath says there is a precedent in place, with both Sinbad Bay (1995) and Bag Limit (1987) granted permission to re-enter the series after scratching through illness.

Auckland Trotting Club Racing Manager, Regan Cotter, believes McLovin would get zero points for round one, meaning if he allowed back for Tuesday, would face an uphill task to make the final.

Gath just wants the option available should McLovin recover in the next 48 hours.

In another bitter blow for a series already light on numbers, Credit Master was also scratched from the first round of heats after contracting an infection.