It’s been a week of mixed emotions for Quebec trainer Luc Blais.

There was the disappointment of Intimidate’s failed quest to capture a second consecutive Breeders Crown victory, but also the excitement of the new challenge awaiting him as the new trainer of prominent Quebec owner Serge Godin.

“At 51, I get the chance to work with another level of horse. It’s like going from coaching juniors to pro,” said Blais, who raced his stable primarily at Rideau Carleton Raceway since Hippodrome de Montreal closed.

“I may never get a chance like that again,” said Blais, adding that he was surprised and flattered by Godin’s invitation. He succeeds Dustin Jones, “a colleague I respect who worked hard there,” whose association with Godin went back two decades.

As for Intimidate, who faded to eighth as favourite in the $600,000 final for older trotters after setting brisk early fractions, Blais said he showed signs of tying up Saturday, but his blood seems fine and “he ate well. Everything seems correct now. It’s disappointing, but I’m happy that today he seems fine. What’s important is to bring him back to what he was.”

How he rebounds in the coming days will help determine whether the horse stops for the year or continues racing, Blais said.

Intimidate has made only nine starts in 2013, winning seven.

(Trot Insider exclusive by Paul Delean)