Time called on champion trotter’s career

The wonderful racetrack career of champion squaregaiter Tornado Valley has come to an end with retirement to include a path through Harness Racing Victoria’s HERO program.

Owner Norm Jenkin decided to call time on the 10-year-old’s racing journey in consultation with trainer Andy Gath and regular driver Kate Gath following his third placing at Tabcorp Park Melton on Saturday night.

“The three of us think the same thing, that he should be retired,” Jenkin said.

“If possible, I’d like to make him the Subzero of trotting. Go around and promote the sport and promote HERO. Not just be one of the normal ones, because he’s not just one of the normal ones.

“He loves being around people and he loves being in work.”

Tornado Valley finishes his career in ninth spot on the all-time prizemoney list for Australasian-bred trotters with $1,033,977 in the bank from 112 starts. Among his 39 wins were many races at Group 1 level, highlighted by the 2018 Inter Dominion Trotting Championship Grand Final and Great Southern Star Final in 2020 and 2021.

The son of Skyvalley made the trip across the Tasman for new owner Jenkin after seven wins in New Zealand and didn’t take long to make his presence felt here in Australia. He won the Group 1 Australian Trotting Grand Prix at just his third start for Gath, a victory which kick-started a stunning run of success throughout the next 12 months. During that period, Tornado Valley won 19 of 21 starts – including that 2018 Inter Dominion Grand Final – to stamp himself as one of the true stars of the sport.

“It’s a pity COVID was here for two reasons. I don’t want to quote money all the time, but he would have won a lot more money had COVID not been around and I’d have been down there to see him more,” Jenkin said.

“I had Flashing Red and you don’t normally get two good ones in your lifetime.”

Tornado Valley broke through the million-dollar earnings barrier with his victory at Melton on December 4 last year, a performance which proved his 39^th and final racetrack success.

Andy Gath used this week’s episode of Burning Questions to announce the retirement.

“We were happy with his run Saturday night, he still performed quite well, he’s sound as a bell, he’s in great order, but I think the time has come to pull the pin on him,” Gath said.

“We know he’s not quite at his best, at the level we expect him to be at.

“It’s not an easy decision because he loves being in work, he loves racing and he loves stable life.

“He’s been a great horse for us and we will all get to follow his journey through the rest of his retirement and see where he ends up.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to train a horse that virtually came from humble beginnings and he’s done so much for us. We love him to death and we are going to miss him when he leaves the stable.”

By Tim O’Connor for HRV