Our Maestro suffering from heat exhaustion

Press, 8 March 1989, Page 46

Our Maestro suffering from heat exhaustion

NZPA-AAP Perth Last year’s InterDominion Pacing Championship winner, Our Maestro, is in doubt for the final set of heats of the 1989 series being staged at Perth’s Gloucester Park. The Bob Knight-trained five-year-old, which pulled up distressed in seventh place behind Riverlea Jack in his 2100 m heat on Monday, is recovering slowly from severe heat exhaustion. Reinsman Vin Knight will decide today after the horse is inspected, whether to continue the defence of the title he won at Harold Park in Sydney last year. Our Maestro was inspected after his disappointing performance on Monday in 34.7 degree heat by the course veterinarian, Tom Rieusset. Dr Rieusset said a combination of the heat and two hard runs after a three-month spell from racing had combined to cause the horse’s condition. The stallion has only earned 10 points from his opening two heats and victory on Friday is imperative if he is to make

the March 17 Final. For the Knights the likelihood of Our Maestro being axed looms as a huge double blow. They have already seen their other leading charge, early series favourite Sinbad Bay, drop out through injury. “I would say that Our Maestro is extremely doubtful,” said Vin Knight soon after Monday’s heats. “The combination of two hard runs in three days and this unbelievable heat has knocked the stuffing out of him. “My only concern is for the horse’s well being. He's only a five-year-old and has got a lot of good racing ahead of him.” Should Our Maestro be withdrawn it will leave the Knights with two runners in the sAust69o,ooo championship. The top mare, Jodie’s Babe (19 points) and speedster Sir Reilly (15) have both performed admirably in the opening two heats. They are highly favoured to qualify for the rich final in which Perth champion, Village Kid, is an outright 5-4 favourite.