A virus has put paid to any short-term plans Mosgiel trainer Alan Clark had for The Fiery Ginga.
The powerful son of CR Commando was well below his best at Alexandra Park last Friday night, which Clark put down to a virus that dealt to The Fiery Ginga along with two travelling companions - Phil's Gift and Not Likely - from Murray Tapper's Timaru property.
Clark arrived back in Mosgiel on Tuesday, and immediately turned the winner of 22 races out for a short spell.
''I'll probably give him a couple of weeks in the paddock as I'm treating him [with medication] as well and possibly look to racing him in mid-January,'' The break may come at a good time for Clark and his stable star, as I Can Doosit - who has collected 18 wins in a row - is set to dominate the Christmas feature trotting races, drawing barrier four behind the mobile for the trotters' flying mile at Cambridge on Monday.
''He's unbeatable at the moment.''
I Can Doosit will take on Stig, the locally trained Charlemagne and mobile specialist Escapee among others in the $40,000 group 2 feature.
Clark will bring The Fiery Ginga back for a trial once the gelding has recovered from the virus and treatment, but Clark has plenty of young ones to work with.
''I got home and dragged four others out of the paddock, so there's always something to do.''
- Matt Smith
