Terang trials a last-ditch attempt for Chucky

Keayang Chucky (Love You) will head to the Terang trials tonight in a last-ditch attempt to join the main draw of the Yabby Dam Farms Great Southern Star final on Saturday night.

The squaregaiter galloped in the early stages of the V L Dullard Cup, but managed to regain composure to charge home to win the Group 3 event. The trotter will need to execute two satisfactory performances to return to the main draw.

“He will trial at Terang tonight (Jan 28),” regular driver Jason Lee said.

“He would have to try and qualify from out of the draw and if he qualifies from out of the draw and does everything right – best-case scenario, he will be free to draw in the field if he makes the final.

“He has got to make the final first.”

The six-year-old who finished second in the Inter Dominion at Menangle in December has struggled with gait issues since returning to Victoria.

“He has been a bit funny with the gait since he returned from Sydney,” Lee said.

“He galloped at Bendigo and cost himself the Maori Mile. It is not completely uncharacteristic for him to gallop.”

The Ecklin South horseman will try a few things to keep the son out of The Sun Goddess in check.

“You got to cross your fingers,” Lee laughed.

“There is not much you can do, and he had a trial after he galloped at Bendigo and raced at Hamilton from the stand.

“We might change some gear and go back and put a line through that run.”

Keayang Chucky has drawn outside the back draw for the second heat of the Yabby Dam Farms Great Southern Star.

The Yabby Dam Farms Great Southern Star is the trotting feature on a stacked Sportsbet A.G. Hunter Cup card.

by Lachlan Mitchell, for Harness Racing Victoria