By MICHAEL GUERIN
John MacQuibban is being way too hard on himself.
The Papakura trainer is blaming himself for having to scratch Classic Turbo from Friday night's Thames Cup, a move which effectively ends the 4-year-old's season.
MacQuibban was unhappy with Classic Turbo's second at the Pukekohe workouts on Saturday and blames himself.
"He wasn't 100 per cent and I think it is my fault," said MacQuibban.
"I tried something different with his training when he got back from Sydney and it hasn't worked."
MacQuibban will withdraw Classic Turbo from Friday's race and under the scratching rule the gelding will not be able to start at next week's premier meeting.
"So that will be it for the season for him. I am disappointed because I would have liked to have got him further through the classes before winter.
"Now I don't really know what to aim him at next season."
While MacQuibban is blaming himself for Classic Turbo not being ready for Friday night's feature few could argue with his handling of the gangly pacer this season.
Classic Turbo started the season a maiden but stormed through the classes, earning an invite to the Chariots Of Fire in Sydney.
While he raced below his best when fifth that night he will return next season looking certain to make open class and should develop into an ideal prospect for races like the Franklin, Auckland and Hunter Cups.
His scratching also leaves champion driver Maurice McKendry watching the Thames Cup from the stand even though Clifton Gold, who he has driven in all his wins, looms as a huge chance in the 3200m event.
McKendry was committed to Classic Turbo before his scratching and Tony Herlihy was engaged for Clifton Gold.
Classic Turbo's scratching will greatly aid Agua Caliente's bid to complete a Thames Cup hat-trick.
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There will be more at stake than just a normal lower grade win in six of the races at Alexandra Park on Friday night.
The maiden and class one pacing races and class one trot are all heats of much richer finals to be staged a week later.
Maidens contesting two of Friday night's races will contest a $10,000 final on June 9, while the class one pacers and trotters will both he chasing spots in $15,000 finals a week later.
The heats-finals concept worked well at the Rowe Cup meeting, giving lower grade horses a chance to race for stakes as good as they would find on any track in Australasia, while providing outstanding betting races.
The concept should again pay dividends for the clubs involved, raising the standard of horses. Leading trainer Mark Purdon is an example, lining up two of his most promising lower grade trotters, Waihemo Hanger and Sheezadoosie, on Friday with an eye to the $15,000 final.
And tough southern pacer Stirling Express has also headed north for the class one series as a travelling companion for stablemate Scoots.
The latter was one of the late scratchings from last Friday's Breeders Stakes but will contest the Thames Cup.
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Champion driver Mark Jones will be hoping to end his dream season on another high.
Jones has already smashed the New Zealand record of 60 wins in a season by junior driver, having 78 wins on the board.
Now he heads the field of 12 for the Air New Zealand Junior Drivers Championships to be held at Cambridge on June 22 and Alexandra Park on June 23.
The field for the championship is.- Jones, Andrew McPherson, Blair Orange, Terry Chmiel, Lauren Pearson, Brad Morris, Allan Broomhall (South Island); Scott Wallis, Gene Robb, Glenys Buchanan, Arna Donnelly, Adam White (North Island).
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One of the great servants of northern harness racing will be remembered at Alexandra Park on Friday night.
The Thames club has named a raced in honour of Les Callander, the president of the Trotting Hall Of Fame, who died on Sunday.
Callander helped make the Hall Of Fame one of the greatest racing museums in the world.
Racing: Cup scratching ends Turbo's classic debut season
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