“He had a slight tear in the suspensory ligament. I thought he was done but Peter Gillespie, my vet, said we could get him back to the races,” said Waikouaiti trainer Denis O’Connell.
It’s been a long process to get it right.
“I started boxing with him, from there I walked him for five minutes and increased that by five minutes each week. Then I started jogging him easy and now fully into work. I haven’t put him in the cart. All his work is now in the lead, while Joany Baby is in the cart doing all the work.”
The nine-year-old will start at 10 meters in the Haras de Trotteurs Forbury Park Trotting Cup over 2200 meters. He has an impressive track record on grass with nine of his fourteen victories on that surface.
“He seems to enjoy the grass and it’s a lot better for his body. When I first got him, Bruce Negus said the beach was the only thing that would save him. He loves the beach and the grass.”
In preparation for his return, O’Connell has taken Aveross Majesty to two trials in Oamaru.
“He has improved with the training, but he will not be race fit. There is a big difference between training and racing.”
O’Connell also has the three-year-old filly Joany Princess (Speed incentive) resume.
She has also disappeared from the scene for a while; she last raced at Invercargill in July.
“She had a bad experience on the beach during Majesty’s rehabilitation. She was scared by a dog and overturned the cart. She is now afraid of seaweed and thinks it is a tiger coming to attack her. She is slowly gaining more confidence.”
Prior to her break, Joany Baby’s form was consistent, making a third and three quarters of her seven race day starts.
“She fought well in her races and the spell was probably good for her.”
She had two tests prior to tomorrow’s race.
“The last test she had, she jumped off the starting tape. Hopefully she improves with that (experience) and goes away. Once she gets going, she’s pretty foolproof.”
Through Bruce Stewartfor Harnesslink
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