Unbeaten trotter sidelined for the rest of the year

Unbeaten squaregaiter Derek The Jet (Volstead) is set to have a long spell and will miss Victoria’s 2024 Breeders Crown harness racing series.

The three-year-old was set to line-up in last Sunday afternoon’s Group 1 Victorian Trotters Derby in anticipation for a mouth-watering clash with the Marg Lee-prepared Keayang Zahara.

Unfortunately, news filtered through that the Group 1 winner was set to miss the showdown.

Trainer-driver Nathan Jack has told thetrots.com.au that the winner of close to $200,000 is fine, but will miss the majors in the coming months.

“He is just going to have a good spell,” Nathan Jack said. “He is done for the season.”

The squaregaiter is set to target a number of Victorian and Interstate Group 1 assignments in 2025.

“He has a bit of bone bruising and bit of general soreness, but it is nothing major,” he said. “I am going to give him a good spell now and he won’t come back until the VicBred and the Breeders Crown (2025) and The Great Square. Those will be his three main aims now.

“He will have a quiet four-year-old season, but at the moment he is fine.”

The son of Cyclone Jeter took out this year’s Group 1 VicBred Super Series for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings.

by Lachlan Mitchell, for Harness Racing Victoria