Ray Green may scratch his team tonight

Pukekohe harness racing trainer Ray Green is in two minds this afternoon on weather to start his team tonight at Alexandra Park after further blood tests came back today showing that several members of his team are still showing signs of the Herpes virus which has affected his race team for several weeks now.

Zach Maguire was scratched earlier today after his latest blood report came back.

Normally it wouldn't be such a big call to pull the whole team out but with Alta Intrigue and Vasari in the $100,000 Young Guns Final tonight it has made Ray's decision a lot harder.

" I am really between a rock and a hardplace with what I do next."

" I am not 100% happy with either of them but it is not every day that you get to start in a $100,000 race and be a big chance in it as well."

" I am just waiting for the latest bloods to come back for both of the two year olds before I make a final decision, but it has really put a damper on the whole night for everybody involved here."

" Nights like tonight are what everybody in the industry aims for from myself to the drivers and owners and to have two runners who if fully fit would have been live chances but for the virus is hard to accept at this late stage," Ray told Harnesslink this afternoon.

Both of the two year olds have been treated extensively for several weeks leading into this week and the blood picture was one of continuing improvement and the feeling that they would be fine come this Friday night.

Ray lined Vasari up last Friday night in the last heat of the Young Gun Series and gave Alta Intrigue a run at the workouts on Saturday.

" I had to give them both a run with the final looming but neither came through it 100% blood wise."

" They wouldn't have been able to race this week without that run last weekend but it hasn't helped their recovery from the Herpes Virus giving them that run so I just couldn't win either way."

" If they do start tonight, I don't think either can be at  their best."

" They will both go big races because they are that talented but you can't hope to win races like that when you are not 100% healthy," Ray said.

Ray has been very bullish when talking to Harnesslink about how talented Alta Intrigue and Vasari are right from early in the season and to have this issue hanging over his team on the big day must be very hard to deal with, even for a trainer of Ray's experience.

Harnesslink Media