Odds lengthen for Aussie trotter's NZ trip

By Adam Hamilton 

It now looks a real longshot Great Southern Star winner Callmethebreeze will head across for NZ Cup Week.

The star French import is a $5 second favourite for the $400,000 Renwick Farms Dominion Trot behind fellow Aussie Just Believe ($1.60). 

Trainer Andy Gath confirmed Callmethebreeeze would not race at Swan Hill as planned tomorrow (Friday) night.

"He's not running, but there's some good news to that because we've found out what's been causing him to trot roughly," he said.

“When he went to NZ earlier this year he developed a quarter crack and that same hoof has flared-up again, but hopefully it’s not too bad and some remedial shoeing can quickly do the trick.

“It’s good to find out what we’re dealing with.

“While it’s unlikely he’ll be on the plane next Tuesday (to Auckland), we’re not giving up yet.

“We’ll do some work over the next few days and see how he is by the end of the weekend. We’ll make a final decision then.

“We’d love to go, but he’ll have to show us he’s ready to go.”

Callmethebreeze brilliantly won his first three starts for Gath, but it all went wrong when trotted roughly at a crucial and galloped in the Group 1 Bill Collins Trotters’ Sprint at Melton on October 12.