Nairn is running out of time

By Michael Guerin

Paul Nairn is running out of time to get defending champion Habibi Inta to the Dominion at Addington in two weeks.

So much so that unless he is able to be fast worked by this coming Tuesday, Nairn believes he will miss Cup week.

Habibi Inta is out of Monday’s South Bay Trotters Cup at Kaikoura after a mystery hock problem with very poor timing.

The outstanding trotter has swelling around his joints but not actual issues with the joints themselves but Nairn’s vet is suggesting he doesn’t fast work the big trotter until the swelling goes down.

With Habibi Inta having only had one race this campaign he is quickly running out of work days to build his fitness for the Dominion on November 13.

“We had his hocks treated recently and it is almost like he has had a reaction to that,” says Nairn.

“The actual joints are fine but there is swelling or maybe even fluid around them and until that goes down I won’t be fast working him.”

Last year’s win in the Dominion showed just how rugged the race can be as Habibi Inta distanced his rivals after sitting off a solid speed so Nairn knows he can’t go into the race at anything less than peak fitness.

“I am still hopeful of getting there but he hasn’t been fast worked this week and unless he is back fast working by Tuesday I’d say we will struggle to get him to the Dominion.”

Nairn says even if the Dominion is not an option Habibi Inta is unlikely to change plans and head to the NZ Free-For-All on NZ Cup Day.