Top trotters Egret, The Locomotive and Harry Stamper already had Group 1 success beside their name heading into Saturday night’s Breeders Crown meeting at Tabcorp Park Melton, but added more prized silverware to their owners’ trophy cabinets with outstanding displays in respective feature contests.
Egret’s triumph in the Woodlands Stud Australia Breeders Crown final for three-year-old trotting fillies provided the feel-good story of the evening, with reinsman Leigh Sutton celebrating his first elite level victory in a driving career spanning more than 20 years.
The 37-year-old Sutton, who started competing in 2002, raised his whip in joy as the Anton Golino-trained youngster sprint-laned to glory in the opening race on the card.
For Egret, the result backed up her earlier Group 1 success in the Trot NSW Three Year Old Final during July and took her record to five wins from 16 starts.
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The Locomotive chalked up a third victory at the highest level when he crushed his rivals in the Aldebaran Park Breeders Crown final for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings.
With Nathan Jack at his brilliant best in the sulky, the Wayne Potter-trained juvenile found the front quickly from barrier eight and charged clear in the home straight to beat Larr Dees Son (David Aiken/Anthony Butt) and Ess Kay Hollywood (Cameron Maggs/David Jack) by close to 15m.
“He’s just a little natural,” Jack said.
“Look at the breeding of him and look at his gait and everything. He’s got the world at his feet this one.
“He just does everything right and he makes my job easy, that’s for sure.”
The Locomotive is by Muscle Mass out of champion race mare La Coocaracha, who is also the mother of multiple Group 1 winner Dance Craze.
A change in barrier draws meant a change in fortunes for Kiwi import Harry Stamper, who reversed the result from last month’s Victoria Trotters Derby when he beat Cravache Dor in the On A Streak @ HDT Breeders Crown final for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings.
Joe Pace’s star squaregaiter was able to burrow through and hold the lead from the speedy Plymouth Chubb (Peter Manning/Kerryn Manning), who tried to cross but couldn’t do so in the early stages of the race.
Jack then sent the Golino-trained Cravache Dor forward from his back row draw to a spot outside Harry Stamper, but the Derby champ couldn’t stick with him when they sprinted for home.
“It’s a real big thrill with this horse,” winning driver Anthony Butt said.
“Joe Pace is a good mate of mine… I was really surprised and thrilled when I got the call-up to drive him, so I’m pleased I could get the job done for him.”
Harry Stamper won the NSW Trotters Derby back in May when having just his second start here in Australia. He’s now an eight-time winner from 16 attempts, with earnings up over $110,000.
The other trotting triumph on Saturday night was recorded by Emma Stewart-trained Susan Is Her Name, who took out the Aldebaran Park Breeders Crown final for two-year-old fillies.
The race will be remembered for an extraordinary 42.9sec lead time – the equal quickest by trotters of any age at Melton – which was set up when Brad Williamson put the handlebars down on Aroha Kenny and declared war on race favourite Rockinwithattitude (David Miles/Jayden Barker).
The early burn was always going to play into the hands of the backmarkers and Mark Pitt summed up the situation perfectly with Susan Is Her Name, who was presented at the right time and swept on by for an easy victory.
Rockinwithattitude, who held the front despite the pressure, was enormous in second just seven-and-a-half metres away, with Dichotomy (Jess Tubbs/Bailey McDonough) getting home for third.
“I was a little bit concerned I was a little way back, but I do know how fast this horse is. They had to come back, they did burn early,” Pitt said.
“She deserves that. She’s been runner-up in a few of the nice races, so that was well deserved by her.”
Read more:
Pacers Ravishing as Stewart smashes records at Breeders Crown
Breeders Crown 3YO trotting fillies: Group 1 joy for Leeroy
Breeders Crown 2YO trotting fillies: Susan swoops on fast starters
Breeders Crown 2YO trotting C&Gs: The Locomotive does it again
Breeders Crown 2YO pacing fillies: Delight as filly makes it nine
Breeders Crown 4YO pacing mares: Win 22 for the pacing queen
Breeders Crown 2YO pacing C&Gs: Captain Jack salutes
Breeders Crown 3YO trotting C&Gs: Harry turns the tables
Breeders Crown 3YO pacing C&Gs: Ravishing resets track record
Breeders Crown 3YO pacing fillies: Encipher doubles down
Breeders Crown 4YO pacing E&Gs: Dominant final Act
ID22 fancies to the fore as top trotters shine at Tabcorp Park
Fides flies home to prevail first-up from mammoth break
Sectionals: Tabcorp Park Melton on Breeders Crown Finals night
