All eyes on Krug at Menangle tonight

All eyes will be on star New Zealand pacer Krug when the field lines up for harness racing’s $50,000 Paleface Adios Stakes at Tabcorp Park Menangle tonight.

Reinsman Jack Trainor was a forlorn figure in the stables last week after Krug galloped and finished tailed off in the Hondo Grattan Stakes, denting his chances of cruising straight into the field for the $250,000 Chariots Of Fire next weekend.

Trainor blamed himself for Krug’s defeat and a phone call that evening from New Zealand trainer – and good friend and mentor Cran Dalgety, soon set him back on track.

“I had a nice message from Cran, telling me to keep my head up and the sun would still rise tomorrow and we’ll get ‘em next week,” Trainor told National Trotguide’s Mike Ko’cass.

“I did blame myself and there was a half a gap there which I tried to take Krug into and it was my fault he galloped.

“We sometimes forget they’re horses, not robots and it didn’t come off.”

Drawn perfectly in barrier one in race 7 tonight, Trainor has declared he will make the most of that draw.

“The horse is well and I certainly plan to use that good barrier and make the most of it,” said Trainor.

While harness fans may have thought racing on three successive Saturday nights might work against Krug, Trainor quickly allayed any fears it would work against Krug.

“I think Cran was planning to give him another start before the Chariots anyway,” said Trainor.

“So, it doesn’t change his preparation all that much.

“I just have to go out there and make sure we get the job done tonight.”

Krug will need to finish in the first four to automatically get a start in the Chariots O Fire, which was his main mission when sent to Trainor’s stables a month ago.

On another busy night for Trainor, he will also be hoping to triumph with star mare Stylish Memphis in Race 5, the Group 2 Sibelia Stakes.

“We just need a genuinely run race as we have an awkward barrier draw,” said Trainor.

“She’ll be much better for the Ladyship Mile on February 26, as long as she makes it into the field, of course.”

Meanwhile star Victorian pacer Lochinvar Art will be sent for a spell and will miss the Miracle Mile after her trainer-driver David Moran declared his champion pacer was ‘tired’ and needed a spell.

To view the fields for Menangle on Saturday night click here.

By Michael Court for HRNSW