She’s got the lead in the inaugural Kerryn Manning Trotting Mares Triple Crown and Aldebaran Crescent is back to chase a second win in the series this Saturday night at Tabcorp Park Melton.
The David Aiken-trained filly broke through for her first Group 1 success in the Lyn McPherson Memorial Breed For Speed Gold Series Final on February 26 – the first leg of the Triple Crown – and has drawn gate five for this weekend’s Group 2 Hygain La Coocaracha Trotters Free For All.
Just six horses have been accepted for the feature, but it’s still jam-packed with quality. Vacation Hill (Andy Gath), who ran second to Aldebaran Crescent in the Gold Series Final, has barrier four, while Anton Golino-trained pair Hopeful Beauty and Im Ready Jet will start from one and six respectively.
Queen Of Crime (Matthew Craven) and Lucinda Mac (Maree Campbell) are the other two mares in the race.
A $20,000 bonus is payable to the owner if a horse wins all three legs of the Kerryn Manning Trotting Mares Triple Crown, with a $10,000 prize on offer for the leading points scorer through the series (1st – 8 points, 2nd – 5 points, 3rd – 3 points, 4th – 2 points and 5th – 1 point).
$30,000 HYGAIN LA COOCARACHA TROTTERS FREE FOR ALL (GROUP 2)
2240m
1–225 HOPEFUL BEAUTY FRA, Josh Duggan NR79 FT
2–823 v QUEEN OF CRIME, Glen Craven NR81 FT
3–244 v LUCINDA MAC, Kerryn Manning NR78 FT
4–121 VACATION HILL NZ, Kate Gath NR104 FT
5–631 v ALDEBARAN CRESCENT, James Herbertson (C) NR108 FT
6–312 v IM READY JET, Jason Lee NR120 FT
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SATURDAY NIGHT MELTON FIELDS
The La Coocaracha is the highlight of Saturday night’s nine-race card at Melton, which kicks off from 6.12pm. Steve Cleave, Rob Auber and caller Dan Mielicki are locked in to bring you all of the action for TrotsVision.
Melton forms part of a big week for Victorian harness racing, with tonight’s special International Women’s Day meeting from Shepparton followed by the Flying Brick Cider Co. Geelong Rocket card on Friday night. Birchip and Wangaratta have feature events planned for Sunday before the Decron Horse Care Noel Smith Memorial Invitation Drivers Championship and Group 2 Speeding Spur @ Woodlands Horsham Trotters Cup out of the Wimmera on Monday.
