Harry Stamper to miss the Great Southern Star

Group 1 winning squaregaiter Harry Stamper (Majestic Son) will miss the Great Southern Star after undergoing surgery but will look to target the Inter Dominion later in the year.

The Joe Pace-trained harness racing gelding has had some stifle surgery on his hind leg but is expected to make a full recovery.

“He has some bad stifle issues, and he will pace work next week and then trial him the week after if all goes well,” Pace said.

Pace also has his eyes on the standing start Australian Trotting Grand Prix as a major event to target.

“We will look towards the Trotting Grand Prix and then there is a race for him at Menangle,” he said.

The $100,000 Group 1 Hammerhead Trotters Mile also sits as a viable possibility in early March.

The winner of over $200,000 finished eighth in the opening heat of the Inter Dominion at Newcastle in late November before a ninth-place finish in the Aldebaran Park Maori Mile on Bendigo Cup night.

“We are going to nominate him for the Inter Dominion and if all goes well,” Pace said. “If this little surgery goes well – we will be heading that way.”

by Lachlan Mitchell, for Harness Racing Victoria