Tact McLeod returns to the track this Saturday

Tact McLeod’s (Sweet Lou) Inter Dominion harness racing campaign may have been thwarted, but the emerging Kiwi pacer will chase some other big races in Australia.

Trainer Mark Jones confirmed the Bendigo, Ballarat and Hunter Cups were on the menu for the gelding, who was scratched from a late bid at the NSW Inter Dominions with an abscess.

Tact McLeod, who hasn’t raced since a luckless fifth in the Group 1 NZ Free-For-All at Addington on November 15, will return to racing in a support race at Menangle at Saturday night’s Inter Dominion Grand Final meeting.

“That’s where he’ll run,” Jones said. “We also entered him for a race at Melton the same night, but that was just a precaution in case he didn’t get a run at Menangle, which he did.

“He’s ready to go. The abscess was really just a timing thing, he was over it quickly, but not quickly enough to run in that first round of heats.

“This race (race one at Menangle) looks like a good starting point for him with the best horses in the Inter Dominion final or consolation. He looks very well graded.”

Ironically, a pacer very well known to Kiwis, former topliner South Coast Arden, looks Tact McLeod’s main danger.

South Coast Arden has won both runs back from a spell for trainer Paul Fitzpatrick, but will start from gate seven, while Tact McLeod has barrier four.

In another synergy, the race is a heat of the Australasian Young Drivers’ series and Kiwi Sam Thornley is drawn to partner Tact McLeod.

South Coast Arden will be driven by young Victorian star Ewa Justice, daughter of John Justice of Shakamaker fame.

After this week’s race, Tact McLeod will head to the Victorian stables of Anthony Butt and Sonya Smith to prepare for a string of targets.

“There’s some really good options there, finishing up with the Hunter Cup,” Jones said.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing New Zealand