Trotter still on a quest to reach $1million

Tornado Valley could be back at the trials next week as connections plot one last campaign with the champion squaregaiter.

The nine-year-old has so far fallen short in his bid to become just the ninth Australasian-bred trotter to reach the $1 million prizemoney mark, being beaten in his last three trips to the races.

This has left the son of Skyvalley stuck on $996,797 in earnings.

He was sent to the paddock after his last-start third in the Group 3 Vulcan Trotters Free For All during May, but his trainer Andy Gath told SEN Track’s Trots Life that the gelding was back in work and poised for a return to the track.

“If you don’t see him at the trials this Monday at Melton, you will the following week. So he’s pretty close,” Gath said.

“He’s in really good order, soundness-wise he’s really good, health-wise he’s good, he looks well. I’d say at this stage he will probably trial Monday night at Melton and we will just be guided by his trials – how many he needs and how he is performing – before we step back on the racetrack.

“We really haven’t got any races earmarked for him. Unfortunately, he’s got to take on his stablemate Majestuoso if he does step out, so it’s not going to be easy. I’d say there’s a good chance this will be his last preparation, but we won’t race him just for the sake of it. We’ve got to be convinced that he’s going to be close to his best before he steps out on the racetrack.”

Tornado Valley is a prolific Group 1 winner, with his elite level triumphs including the Inter Dominion Grand Final and Great Southern Star on two occasions.

If successful in reaching the million-dollar mark, Tornado Valley would join fellow greats Lyell Creek, I Can Doosit, Sundons Gift, Speeding Spur, Take A Moment, Stent, Keystone Del and One Over Kenny as those from this part of the world to achieve the feat.

LISTEN TO ANDY GATH SPEAK ON SEN TRACK BELOW: