Racing: Heavily backed colt falters

Trainer Mark Walker hopes a veterinary inspection this morning will identify the exact extent of the problem that saw glamour colt Don Garcia finish out of the money at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Don Garcia started the shortest-priced favourite since fixed-odds betting was introduced in New Zealand.

The classy colt jumped away reasonably and sat outside the pacemaker to the home turn.

Rider Michael Walker said Don Garcia was completely unable to let down in the home straight.

"Three vets inspected him at Te Rapa yesterday and all three rated him two out of five lame behind, almost certainly with a pulled muscle," said Mark Walker yesterday.

One of those vets, Douglas Black, Mark Walker's stable vet, will do this morning's inspection. "It's always hard to say how serious these sorts things are at the start," said Walker.

Don Garcia showed he has what it takes to become a superstar with his two wins. His back-running performance at Trentham before Saturday was particularly stunning.

His main aim is the $500,000 Mercedes Classique at Te Rapa in February.

"It's way too early to say whether this will have an effect on that."

Robert Priscott's filly Chant gained a deserved win. She paid $21.40 and $2.75, testimony to Don Garcia's total dominance of the win betting pool.