Hectorjayjay Photo by Dan Costello
It’s official, brilliant pacer Hectorjayjay has hit a hurdle…again.
Hectorjayjay was unplaced at his most recent start back on June 6 when a lacklustre fifth behind Glenferrie Hood in a time of 1:51.9 at Albion Park which then forced QRIC Stewards to stand him down acting on veterinary advice.
At his previous start at the same track, he scored an explosive victory in a time of 1:52.8.
And the much revised Queensland winter carnival features next month at Albion Park are now off the table.
Obvious targets included the $21,160 Wondais Mate Open Pace (1660m) on July 11 followed by the $25,660 Mr Feelgood Open Pace (2138m) the following week while the $25,660 Lucky Creed Open Pace (2680m) was another option.
“He’s just got a little issue with a joint and we’re not going to take any chances so we’ll back off now and aim at the bigger money events later in the year,” Butler said.
“It’s not a suspensory issue so this setback is a much better problem to deal with so I’m confident he can return during the summer.” He added.
But the state’s biggest race, the Group 1 TAB Blacks A Fake, will headline the new-look Summer Carnivalthis year alongside the Gr. 2 Queensland Cup and the Gr. 3 Be Good Johnny Sprint and Butler is hoping his star performer can claim the race again.
The millionaire gelding won the event back in 2017.
Another event that Butler is keen to attack with Hectorjayjay is the Shirley Turnbull Memorial on Boxing Day night at his former home track of Bathurst.
The nine-year-old gelding has raced only three times since being transferred to Butler last year.
Overall, Hectorjayjay has won 44 of his 83 career starts with earnings in excess of $1.1 million.
