Pizzuto takes the blame

KEVIN Pizzuto blames himself for Tiger Tara running one of the worst races of his career in the NZ free-for-all.

And he wants punters and fans of the mighty pacer to know it won’t happen again.

In short, Pizzuto said he gave Tiger Tara to much time in a lush paddock eating grass after his epic second to Thefixer in last Tuesday’s NZ Cup.

“He was bloated and you know it feels when you’re bloated,” he said. “I made a mistake. I’m annoyed with myself. It shouldn’t have happened.

“I can understand people thinking he might have been tired after the Cup, but it wasn’t that. He actually pulled-up blowing after the race. He’s simply had far too much of that green grass.

“Of course you get everything checked after a run like that. I had him scoped, but he was fine.

“And he’s been really well since so now I just want to get him home and focus on the Inter Dominion.”

Tiger Tara is booked on a flight back to Sydney on Tuesday.

It’s great to hear Pizzuto has committed to the Inter Dominion after being far from certainly at stages of last week.

“I think this thing of needing to be in Melbourne five days before the heats start is crazy, but I will go down early if I have to,” Pizzuto said.

“I’m taking about 15 horses down to Victoria to race them for a few weeks around Inter Dominion time.”

Tiger Tara has eased from $4 to $5, but remains favourite for the Inter Dominion final.

There has been lots of talk about Tiger Tara also going to Perth for the lucrative Fremantle and WA Cups in January.

“At one stage I’d considered missing the Inter Dominion and just going to Perth, but now I’m committed to Victoria, I’ll wait and see how he comes through that before deciding on Perth,” Pizzuto said.

“I’d love to go to Perth and probably will if he comes through the Inter Dominion really well.”

Adam Hamilton