Stylish Monarch still has spark
South Canterbury’s champion trotter Stylish Monarch has come out of a brief retirement and will have a tilt at another Dominion Handicap, in November.
The 10-year-old, who won the premier Group I race for trotters in record time during New Zealand Cup week in 2010, was one of 38 horses nominated for the race on Wednesday.
The winner of 17 races from 60 starts, including three Group I events, Stylish Monarch last raced in a low grade event at Addington on August 23 last year.
Ironically, that was his first race in 10 months as he had battled several leg issues. However, when swelling to a previously healthy leg appeared, the decision t was made to retire him.
Up until four months ago, he had been enjoying life at former trainer Murray Tapper’s South Canterbury property.
‘‘I had a few horses in work and when I’d go and pick them up, he’d be running around like a son of a gun and I thought he’d be perfect to use for a training partner because he is so well mannered.
‘‘Once we got out there, he just wouldn’t stop competing with them and I felt if he was healthy enough that he was too good to just be in a paddock.’’
Tapper said he believed the horse was fully fit and his performance in four trials so far backed that up.
He said he was under no illusions of the task ahead to get the horse right for the second week in November at Addington.
‘‘I’ve always said that if he gets sore again we’ll just put him back in retirement.
‘‘The same goes for the results, he has to be producing for us to keep going.
‘‘He won’t get run over because he has that competitive spirit but I don’t want him going through a campaign and just getting sixth or sevenths because that’s degrading to both him and me.’’
Stylish Monarch will start on the comeback at Addington next Friday.
‘‘He’ll need a couple of runs for sure but it will be great to see him out there again.
‘‘This is our last crack with him and hopefully it gives the chance for us to bow out on our terms.’’