Racing: Injury puts Aussie champion in doubt

Interdominion trotting champion Sumthingaboutmaori is unlikely to defend her title in Auckland in March because of injury.

Trainer Brian Healy fears the mare may have a fractured pastern bone in her off side hind leg, an injury that would end her season and possibly her career.

"We have had a bugger of a season and just when things seem to be coming right this happens," said Healy.

"We won't know what the exact problem is until she has had a scan but it doesn't look great."

Sumthingaboutmaori just held out Pukekohe mare Martina H to win the Interdom crown last February, having inflicted a rare free-for-all defeat on champion trotter Take A Moment two months before.

The Australian has struggled to match that form this season and raced well below her best during a four-race NZ campaign in the spring.

News of her problems quickly reached TAB bookies yesterday, who drifted her from $8 to $10, moving rival Victorian trotter Sammy Do Good into $6.5 from $7.

There has also been early money for the north's most improved trotter Delft, from $12 to $10.