Triedtotellya Withdrawn from Nullarbor Due to Illness, Replaced by Hugotastic
In a dramatic turn of events just days before the prestigious Group 1 $1.25 million Nullarbor (2536m) at Gloucester Park, Tasmanian raider Triedtotellya has been ruled out of the contest due to illness following travel to Western Australia. Slot holder Swandoo Harness Racing has swiftly replaced the star pacer with local hope Hugotastic in an eleventh-hour decision.
Travel Troubles Force Withdrawal
Triedtotellya, an untapped six-year-old gelding trained by Rohan Hillier, had captured the imagination of racing fans in the Apple Isles by winning 19 of his 26 career starts. His impressive form prompted Swandoo's Jim Giumelli to secure the flashy black horse for WA's premier harness racing event. However, after flying from Melbourne to Perth on Friday, it became evident that the speedster was not himself.
Co-owner Braden Howlett expressed deep disappointment at the situation. "We're gutted," Howlett said. "He hasn't eaten since travelling and we're not going to take any chances. We're also going to look into circumstances about communication with the travel that could've been handled better."
Howlett emphasized the significance of the missed opportunity, noting "It was supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience and it has come at a decent cost to all involved. It's just devastating, really."
Swandoo's Quick Thinking
Giumelli had initially believed Triedtotellya was the perfect candidate for the Nullarbor, favoring him over the approximately 38 horses already in Swandoo's stable. "We thought Triedtotellya could do better than anything we could put up," Giumelli explained. "It was disappointing because we thought we had the other horse but the trainer said he'd rather not start because he's not eating as good as he should be. We think he'll be okay for the Fremantle Cup next week."
Acting with remarkable speed, Giumelli approached Hugotastic's trainer Michael Young and negotiated terms to acquire the dashing son of Sweet Lou. "We rang Michael and he said, 'yeah, no problem' and agreed to the conditions. It was all done within 10 minutes or so," Giumelli revealed.
Hugotastic's Credentials
Hugotastic arrives with solid recent form, having finished second to Magnificent Storm in the Bunbury Cup just two starts ago. "He ran well in the Bunbury Cup and he's had a pretty good lead-up, with three runs including the cup," Giumelli noted.
The trainer acknowledged the unconventional timing of the substitution but remained optimistic about Hugotastic's chances. "It is a last minute swap over but beggars can't be choosers, I suppose, and this horse is cherry ripe for a run; it's not like he's been sitting around unraced for the last two to three weeks. If he draws well, he'll give it a good nudge. Michael is pretty happy with his claims."
Striking Similarities Between Replacements
Ironically, Hugotastic shares several key characteristics with the horse he's replacing. Like Triedtotellya, Hugotastic is a sparingly raced six-year-old who has endured time on the sidelines through injury. While relatively unexposed in high-tempo races at the upper echelon of harness racing, he possesses a lethal turn of foot that has caught attention in lower grades.
Hugotastic demonstrated his late-closing ability once again in Friday's Governor's Cup (2130m), making significant inroads behind two Nullarbor favorites Magnificent Storm and Mighty Ronaldo. This performance suggests he may be well-suited to the demands of the prestigious race despite the sudden change in plans.
The Nullarbor at Gloucester Park remains one of Western Australia's most anticipated harness racing events, and while Triedtotellya's withdrawal represents a significant blow to connections and fans, Hugotastic's inclusion adds an intriguing local element to the contest. Racing enthusiasts will be watching closely to see if this last-minute substitution can overcome the disruption and challenge the established favorites in what promises to be a thrilling edition of the Group 1 feature.
