Chasing majors closer to home

HAVING turned down the opportunity to compete in tonight's TAB Trot in Cambridge, connections of classy squaregaiter Constantinople will continue to focus on major targets closer to home.

Last month, the 'Constantinople crew' were in negotiations to have the son of Trixton contest the $600,000 feature, which doubles as the southern hemisphere's first trotting slot race.

With an agreement unable to be reached, Constantinople has remained in New South Wales, which will see him in action at Club Menangle tomorrow night instead.

A short-priced favourite against free-for-all company, Constantinople is being readied for a Queensland assault in July before his ultimate target - Inter Dominion - at Menangle in November.

"We were interested in taking him over, but it wasn't meant to be," co-owner Jerry Glavas said. "It would have been nice, but these things happen.

"We've got other races in mind for him, including Queensland's Winter Carnival.

"He won the Inter Dominion Trotters' Consolation up there last year and with another 12 months experience under his belt, we'd like to think he can do better at Menangle later this year."

To be driven by Jack Callaghan for trainer Luke McCarthy, Constantinople has drawn barrier nine, but slots into seven following a pair of scratchings.

Thanks to his five wins and a second from his seven starts, the seven-year-old is a $1.80 favourite, with Royal Dan considered the main danger at $3.90 from gate five.

"It is a similar field to that he has been racing and beating, so there is no reason why he can't do it again," Glavas said. "That said, we all know anything can happen in racing, so he has to get out there and get the job done."