WHAT was the highlight of his promising career to date has come back to bite the connections of Albury racehorse Lord Von Costa.
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Racing NSW this week confirmed Lord Von Costa is ineligible for this year’s Country Championships due to his victory at Flemington last July.
Lord Von Costa highlighted his enormous potential with a victory in the $120,000 listed Creswick Series Final (1200m) at Flemington.
He was soon transferred back to the stable of Graham Hulm at Albury in preparation for a crack at the $150,000 Southern District heat of the Country Championships in March.
But connections were soon informed he is no longer eligible for the Country Championships due to it having won a group or listed race.
The Country Championships is for Class Five horses and below.
Sportsbet had installed Lord Von Costa as the $15.00 early favourite for the final at Randwick on April 1.
Part-owner Donna Scott said the stable has since changed plans for Lord Von Costa.
“The Country Champions were initially the plan. It would have been ideal for him,” Scott said.
“He’ll race over the Albury carnival instead, either in the Flat Knacker or City Handicap, depending on how he’s going.
“We’re hoping to still take him to Sydney for the autumn carnival.”
With Lord Von Costa out, Sportsbet rate Corowa four-year-old Challenge Accepted as Southern District’s best chance in the Country Championships.
Challenge Accepted, trained by Geoff Duryea, is rated a $26 chance.
Challenge Accepted has won two of his nine starts and was crowned Southern District’s 3YO of the Year last season.
The Dave Heywood-trained Man Of Peace, at $41, and Kerry Weir’s Levee Bank, rated a $67 chance, are the only other two Southern District gallopers in the market, at this stage.
Sportsbet trading manager Justin Kahlefeldt said the early market was up again due to popular demand.
“We put up an early market last year and it attracted really good interest from trainers and owners. We put 15 to 20 horses up and quoted others on request and ended up with about 100 horses in the market,” Kahlefeldt said.
“We try to pick out the top few from each area and will then keep adding horses as they progress through their preparation, and upon request.”
Kahlefeldt said the logic behind Challenge Accepted’s position in the market was simple.
“Challenge Accepted ran fourth in the Southern District heat last year as a three-year-old and looks to have improved since then,” he said.
“It’s a tough race to win.”
Prices are available upon request.
