A breathtaking season of two and three-year-old racing is fast approaching with Victoria’s next big things emerging, including a stunning, track record breaking run by Beyond Delight at Bendigo on Saturday.
Emma Stewart’s two-year-old colt stripped seven-tenths off Sicario’s middle-distance age record, declaring his contender status for November’s forthcoming Breeders Crown and December’s Vicbred Super Series.
“He’s a nice little horse,” reinsman Greg Sugars told Trots Vision after Beyond Delight’s third win from as many starts, winning by 4.5 metres in the Simonds Homes Bendigo 2YO Pace.
“He’s not overly big, but he showed brilliant high speed last time (August 22) and today he showed a bit of toughness to him as well,” Sugars said. “He is certainly going to be a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming feature races.”
The two-year-olds kick off this year’s Breeders Crown with heats at Ballarat over 2200 metres on November 4, building up to their $300,000 final at Tabcorp Park on November 21.
Before then races like The Big Screen Company Tatlow Stakes on October 23 shape as key hit-outs, with Sugars suggesting even leading lights like Beyond Delight still have ground to gain.
“He’s still got a bit to learn as far as racing manners go, he’s not 100 per cent just yet, which is probably a good thing - a horse that can carve out sectionals as he does and you know he’s only going to improve with racing experience as he matures and strengthens up a bit more,” he said.
Beyond Delight was briskly away from the gates Saturday night to see off Lochinvar Chief’s early challenge in a 37.3-second lead time, which was eight-tenths quicker than the earlier star-studded free for all when Hurricane Harley worked to the front.
While Lochinvar Chief tired badly before the final turn amid a 29.2-second third quarter, Beyond Delight swept home in 27.5 seconds for the last 400 metres, holding out Clayton Tonkin-trained Idyllic, who was on his back throughout.
“He ran a solid middle section, then backed off, and then when the horse outside (Lochinvar Chief) started to struggle and drop off he relaxed with it and thought it’s time to relax, but it was quite the opposite, it was time to get going again,” Sugars said.
“But it didn’t take much just to get his mind back on the job and he was really strong up the straight. He’s still got a little bit to learn, but he’s not too far away.”
And with that, all bodes well for the Group 1s to come.
“(Clayton and Emma) are obviously a major player every year and this year’s no exception, they’ve produced a few high quality, both fillies and colts, over recent weeks,” Sugars said. “It looks to be some exciting racing and great to be a part of the team.
“I know they rate (Beyond Delight) very highly, so he would be pretty close to it – if he’s not number one pick he’d be very highly assessed I’m sure by the camp. Having said that I know that they do have a few other pretty hands ones, some that may haven’t even been produced yet.”
Another likely to be prominent in the features is Idyllic, whose reinsman Chris Alford said he “was (good) considering the mile (rate) was 1.54.3 for the babies, which was super”.
Alford then followed up in the following race with an eye-catching victory on Brent Lilley-trained Tailored Elegance, who dominated the TAB Long May We Play 3YO Trot, winning by 21.6 metres.
“Tonight she felt back to her best and did it really well,” Alford said. “It looked like the leader (favourite Chevron Action) over raced a bit, which probably didn’t do its cause any good. She got a nice run through, got off early and just came with one run. She still had more left I reckon.”
And that puts her near the head of affairs for a busy program for three-year-old trotters.
“I think the aim is Oaks, Breeders Crown and Derby probably, I think she’s good enough to measure up to that.”
The $60,000 TAB Victoria Trotters Oaks will be at Melton on October 17, topping the billing on the same night as the Aldebaran Park Vicbred Platinum Home Grown Classic finals and the Benstud Make Mine Cullen, which is the first night of the Elizabeth Clarke Mares Triple Crown.
The $75,000 Victoria Derby Trotters Final then follows on November 1 at Maryborough on Redwood Day, which also features the Redwood Classic, while the Breeders Crown kicks off for the trotters with their heats on November 12 at Maryborough.