Victoria Cup dream over for star pacer

One of the biggest stars of harness racing’s upcoming Victoria Cup Carnival is out.

Long-time Victoria Cup favourite Spirit Of St Louis (Sweet Lou) will miss Saturday’s Group 1 feature after a minor but untimely setback.

Co-trainer Luke McCarthy said Spirit Of St Louis had been “off for a few days” and missed some work, meaning he and wife, Belinda, had run out of time to have the multiple feature race winner ready.

“He won’t be ready. We’ll change plans and go to the Len Smith Mile up here (Sydney) instead,” he said.

Spirit Of St Louis will then target the Victorian Inter Dominion series.

Team McCarthy’s Victoria Cup hopes now rest with Expensive Ego, who is into favouritism despite racing just once – for a Menangle win – since finishing down the track in the Miracle Mile on March 12.

by Adam Hamilton, for Newscorp