Superstars reinforced their status and new champions emerged on a night of fireworks at Tabcorp Park Melton, where the Vicbred Super Series finals served up a memorable 12 Group 1s.
Ladies In Red again stole the headlines with a stunning performance in the breeze to be one of three Emma Stewart winners and, along with Honolua Bay, part of a Group 1-winning double for owner/breeder Lauriston Bloodstock and reinsman David Moran.
It was also an unforgettable night for Tony and Pam Coniglio, owner/breeders of both of Matt Craven’s winning pair Queen Of Crime and Heza Son Of Agun, while Kerryn Manning also produced a double that included Plymouth Chubb, who put an exclamation point on his powerhouse season.
Relive all the terrific highs with thetrots.com.au’s Group 1 review.
THE LADIES A CHAMP AS RED CAPS STUNNING 3YO SEASON
LADIES In Red’s reputation as a generational freak was further ensconced with a stunning, fighting victory in tonight’s Vicbred Super Series final.
The Emma Stewart-trained three-year-old improved her record to 17 wins and three seconds from 20 outings and powered past full-brother Our Little General’s Australian stakes watermark of $522,000 with another extraordinary, fighting performance.
The Stewart team continued their domination of the three-year-old fillies’ class with the first four home and, while second-placed Rogue Wave presented a late challenge, Ladies In Red again had all the answers for reinsman David Moran.
“She never seems to disappoint in the finals,” Moran told TrotsVision. “She’s just an amazing horse, the things she does and how she does it. She’s one of a kind that’s for sure.”
Ladies In Red again showed those attributes tonight, having to overcome a back row draw to eventually sidle up and sit outside highly rated Joanna.
And just when she’d seen off the challenge of that stablemate at the final turn she had to dig and find again to hold at bay a swooping Rogue Wave, but despite doing plenty of work she had all the answers and won by 1.5 metres off a 54.2-second last half.
“It’s a huge privilege (to drive her),” Moran said. “I don’t think you quite understand it or respect it enough early in horses careers. It’s when they start to get on and do more and more amazing things you realise you’ve been a part of a very special time in a very special horse’s career.
“I don’t get too perturbed about a lot of things, but you drive some of these horses and I’m very chuffed to have the opportunity, let alone be the one who’s stuck with her through her career.”
The emotion was shared by her owner-breeders Anne and Bill Anderson of Lauriston Bloodstock, who were trackside to savour the win.
“When you breed them, and she was around the farm for probably a good 13 or 14 months – personality plus – it’s a great reward,” Bill Anderson said.
“People ask us all the time, can I have a photo taken with her – people really want to be included. We need a profile horse in this industry and I think, hopefully, she’s the one to do it.”
He said she’d likely now be prepared for an assault on Sydney’s Ladyship Mile or Chariots Of Fire.
CHUBB CLINGS ON TO COMPLETE REMARKABLE YEAR
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Plymouth Chubb’s 2021 season will go down as one of the greatest ever seen after Peter Manning’s brilliant gelding collected a fourth two-year-old Group 1 on New Year’s Eve.
The champion juvenile held on to win the Skyvalley at Aldebaran Park Vicbred Super Series 2YO Trotting Colts and Geldings Final by a bare margin over arch-rival Courage Stride (Chris Lang), who went down by a short half-head on the line.
Manning’s daughter Kerryn was at the controls and she moved Plymouth Chubb from his back row draw to the death seat at the bell, but that allowed Courage Stride to gain crucial one-one cover. And with Manning needing to pressure talented leader Cravache Dor (Anton Golino/Josh Duggan), it left her vulnerable for Lang’s charge in the straight.
But despite his best efforts, Courage Stride’s dive-bomb attack just missed and Plymouth Chubb held on for yet another triumph.
“When they get to him, he does fight on,” Kerryn said.
“Wouldn’t have wanted it much further, but it’s a good relief to get there.
“It’s great to have a horse like this to drive and for the family to enjoy.”
Plymouth Chubb’s owners and breeders Gary Benson and Steven Hegyi were trackside to witness their horse’s 14th-straight success, which took his earnings up over $220,000.
On-track broadcaster Gareth Hall revealed plans for the Majestic Son gelding to be sent to New Zealand for some of the derbies during his three-year-old season and to potentially tackle the Inter Dominion Championships in Victoria during late 2022.
“Not since Knight Pistol has (Dad) had a horse that’s good enough to look at these sort of races and baring bad luck and anything, he’s certainly got the qualities,” Kerryn said.
“Obviously it gets harder from now on, but he’s certainly a lovely horse and he’s done such a good job.”
Plymouth Chubb’s other Group 1 wins in 2021 included the Home Grown Classic, Redwood Classic and Breeders Crown Final.
SUGARS MAGIC TAKES MAAJIDA TO TRIPLE CROWN
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Greg Sugars produced a stunning drive to help Maajida race into the Vicbred Super Series history books at Tabcorp Park Melton on New Year’s Eve.
From the inside of the back row, Sugars was quickly off the pegs on the Emma Stewart-trained pacer and had her in front of key rival Spellbound (barrier seven) in the blink of an eye.
Soon after she had found the lead and was able to control the race before dashing home in 28.5sec and 27.4sec quarters for a six-and-a-half metre success.
Sugars pumped his fist as Maajida cruised to the line over runner-up Spellbound (Nathan Purdon/Stuart McDonald) and third-placed Sew What (Lance Justice).
“It was just enough to let you know it was a special one for me,” Sugars said of his celebration.
“Obviously she has a very high win ratio which helps, but there’s just something about her. I just really like the way she goes about it.”
Maajida’s win in the Vincent VSS 4YO Mares Final means she is now the first female pacer and sixth horse overall to win Group 1 Vicbred finals at ages two, three and four.
She joins Noopy Kiosk (1995-97), Table Card (1987-89), Spidergirl (2012-14), Claudys Princess (2013-15) and Colbruce (1996-97) as those to have achieved the feat.
CRAVENS’ FAITH PAYS AS PACER TROTS TO THE TOP
Queen Of Crime lay in wait and when opportunity knocked she pounced with a Group 1 winning finish to score for driver Glen Craven.
Famed reinsman Brian Gath and Illawong Stardust made a bold bid for the Aldebaran Park 4YO trotting mares crown, holding out favourite Im Ready Jet early, but the relentless pace came at a cost and again it was a Matt Craven-trained runner who was perfectly poised to take advantage on the big stage.
“She’s always been just behind the good ones,” Matt Craven said of Queen Of Crime. “She’s just getting bigger and stronger and she’s got a lot of confidence at the moment.”
It was also a terrific result for owner-breeders Pam and Tony Coniglio, who had been patient with their pacing bred mare. She’s by Sportswriter out of their 12-time winning mare Our Crime Of Passion, who’s previous foal was Crime Writer, a pacer who’s almost crashed through $150,000 in winnings.
Queen Of Crime followed a similar path initially, with her first two starts being in pacing events for a fourth and second before returning as a three-year-old as a trotter.
Remarkably, her squaregaiting debut was a seventh at Ballarat, when she finished 77 metres behind Rules Dont Apply, winner of tonight’s four-year-old entires and geldings’ division.
Tonight delivered the sixth win of her 27-start career and a thrilling Group 1, which she registered with a blitz to the line amid a 56.9-second last half.
“It’s always great to win a Group 1, but to do with the family, Matty, and Pam and Tony … I’ve had an association with them for a while. It’s great to win a race for them.”
THE PUPPET BRINGS UP FAB 40 AS AMORE VITA SCORES
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Opportunity knocked and, as he done so often before, Chris Alford beat the door down and in doing so claimed a 40th Vicbred Super Series finals victory.
For trainer Nathan Purdon the champion reinsman had the reins of Amore Vita, but her Always B Miki two-year-old pacing fillies final initially went off script when she was unable to hold the lead from gate one.
Petillante was in a class of her own out of the gates, covering Amore Vita, who had to settle for a pegs run, and the leader’s reinsman Jason Lee was able to control proceedings from there with stablemates Encipher and Fiamma on her outside.
However, when Fiamma broke stride 400 metres from home Alford pounced, extracting Amore Vita from the fence and setting out after the leader. By the 100-metre mark the job was done and from there he could enjoy the ride,
“(Getting crossed) wasn’t ideal, but she was relaxed which was the main thing and settled really well behind it,” Alford told TrotsVision.
“We just needed an opening in the last lap, I knew she’d hit the line well if she got a run. Once she got in the clear the two leaders were under pressure and she was just full of running and had that much power left I had to go. She ran up the straight pretty much under her own esteem.”
It was another magical moment at Tabcorp Park Melton for Purdon, who continues to thrive in his Victorian career.
“I’ve always thought she’s pretty good,” he said of Amore Vita, who will now have a spell before being directed towards the New South Wales Oaks.
REDEMPTION FOR CROSSLAND AND RULES DONT APPLY
Ever since Rules Dont Apply lost all winning hope by galloping in the Vicbred Super Series 3YO Trotting Colts and Geldings Final last December, Eppalock horseman Anthony Crossland has had a return to the New Year’s Eve spotlight on his mind.
And redemption was complete this evening when Crossland guided his stable star to victory in the Yield Boko at Aldebaran Park Vicbred Super Series 4YO Trotting Entires and Geldings Final.
Crossland, who trains and drove the horse, stayed out of the early speed battle and then came with a searching run to park outside Cover Of Darkness at the bell. He quickly put the Emma Stewart-trained rival to the sword down the back and then held off Powderkeg (Lisa Miles), who chased gallantly but could only get 7.1m from the winner at the line.
The victory was Rules Dont Apply’s first Group 1 success and the eighth win of his 21-start career.
TAYLA, ALEX CELEBRATE GROUP 1 GLORY FOR THE FIRST TIME
In a battle reminiscent of the 1986 Cox Plate classic between Bonecrusher and Our Waverley Star, Parisian Artiste outgunned Aldebaran Zeus to take out the Vicbred Super Series 3YO Trotting Colts and Geldings Final.
The two horses were clear favourites in the market and engaged in a war down the back straight the final time, pulling away from the field to fight out the finish.
And it was Parisian Artiste, who had sat parked outside his Brent Lilley-trained and Chris Alford-driven opponent throughout the 2240m journey, that proved toughest and came away to win by nearly 5m.
Driver Tayla French waved her whip in triumph as she passed the post, celebrating her first Group 1 success in style.
“He’s just such a cool little dude. He’s got his quirks and I’ve learnt to go with him. I respect him and he respects me back,” French, 24, said.
The result was also a maiden elite-level win for French’s partner and the horse’s trainer Alex Ashwood.
“That was bloody awesome,” Ashwood said.
“It was a great team effort at home and all credit goes to Tayla. (She) has done a lot of work with this horse and it’s paid off tonight.”
So dominant were the first two across the line, there was more than 25m back to third place-getter Bullion Harry (Chris Lang/Kate Gath).
Parisian Artiste was bred by Yabby Dam Farms and started his racing career with Anton Golino, but has now won seven races from 11 starts for Ashwood and French.
BONDI THE BEAST OVERCOMES ADVERSITY
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“I call him Rocky Balboa because he gets knocked down and he keeps getting up again!”
Those were the words called by Dan Mielicki shortly after the start of the Rock N Roll Heaven Vicbred Super Series 3YO Colts and Geldings Final when race favourite Bondi Lockdown was caught in a tangle with Beyond Delight (Emma Stewart/Greg Sugars).
But trainer-driver Aaron Dunn steadied his charge, rolled forward to a spot up on the speed and still had enough in the tank to put pay to his rivals in the home straight.
The Somebeachsomewhere colt had nearly 5m in reserve over Narutac Prince (David and Josh Aiken), who flashed home from back in the field at big odds to grab second.
The win, which was clocked in a rapid 1:53.4min mile rate, was Bondi Lockdown’s second at Group 1 level after taking out the VHRC Caduceus 3YO Classic back in January.
“I thought I might have been in a bit of strife to be honest,” Dunn said of the incident at the start.
“Around the turn, I wasn’t going to go for home too early, but he had them all covered.
“It’s unbelievable. He’s a great horse. It would have been unlucky if he got knocked off tonight.”
Bondi Lockdown, who was bred by Carl and Matthew Reinehr and is owned outright by Dunn, has now won 12 of 26 starts for over $230,000 in prizemoney.
BRILLIANT BAY HOLDS ON AND NOW READIES FOR A MIRACLE
It was dour and eventful but Honolua Bay again proved himself a star on the rise, breaking open the Ultimate Sniper Vicbred Super Series final with blazing second and third quarters and then holding on in a gruelling final straight.
Second victories of the night for David Moran and owner/breeders Bill and Anne Anderson of Lauriston Bloodstock also produced a third for Emma Stewart, and the formidable combination likely has even more glorious Group 1 moments in store.
Honolua Bay has long oozed potential and tonight produced a fifth win from as many starts since joining Stewart, three of which have been at Group level.
“He covers the ground, you wouldn’t think you are going as quick as you are, but he just covers the ground so well and has got such a big stride on him,” Moran said. “He’s got the makings of a very nice horse.”
He had to be good tonight.
There was plenty of chopping and changing early until Honolua Bay advanced three-wide and to the front of affair, with key threat Jay Ok matching his every move.
The race was then on in earnest in 28.2 and 27.1 second and third quarters, with big gaps emerging in the field as the leaders cleared out.
Silent Major finished impressively to run into second amid a 29.4 final quarter, but Honolua Bay had enough to hold on.
Anne Anderson said the camp had big plans for the winner, noting “we’d have to look at the Miracle Mile … he’s done a really good job”.
FANCY FINISH CLAIMS FINALS THRILL FOR FITZPATRICK
A bold mission south paid great dividends for Blake Fitzpatrick with the New South Wales trainer claiming the three-year-old trotting fillies’ final with Fancy.
His prized filly was in the safe hands of driver Kerryn Manning who produced the first leg of a Group 1 running double when she teamed with the Yabby Dam Racing-bred filly, who was superb in crashing the line and scoring by 4.3 metres.
“She certainly put her best foot forward,” Manning said of Fancy, who was chasing her first win in five Victorian starts.
“She did very well in her heat, she was a bit wayward and hung in, they rectified that a bit.
“She still wanted to get in a little bit most of the way, but did a little bit early, lobbed a nice spot at the bell and felt good after that.”
Manning advanced to the breeze outside Keayang Xena and was relieved when Greg Sugars moved forward on Banglez and gave her cover.
The leaders eye-balled each other through a 29.4-second third quarter and come the top of the straight Manning and Fancy were nicely poised, sweeping to a 4.3-metre victory from fellow strong finishers Queen Invasion and Sangreal.
“Top of the straight I thought, ‘I think we are the winner here’,” Manning said. “Just had to get a nice run and she was just too good.”
SOFIA GETS HER GROUP 1
Sofia Arvidsson’s remarkable rise through harness racing’s driving ranks took another stratospheric leap this evening with victory in the Art Major Vicbred Super Series 2YO Colts and Geldings Final.
The Swedish-born Arvidsson, who barely had any knowledge of the sport when she moved to Australia a few years ago, scored a dominant 6.8m aboard Heza Son Of Agun.
The success brought up a double for Arvidsson’s partner, Ecklin South trainer Matthew Craven, who had earlier scored with stablemate Queen Of Crime.
“To be honest, I feel a bit numb at the moment,” Arvidsson, 26, said.
“I don’t know really what to say or think. I’m just so proud of the horse, I’m just so proud of him, and so grateful to Pam and Tony (Coniglio) for letting me drive him and look after him.”
Amazingly, the Coniglios bred and own both Queen Of Crime and Heza Son Of Agun, who race in their well-known royal blue, yellow and black colours.
Heza Son Of Agun produced a breathtaking semi-final performance last week when he galloped at the top of the straight, but got back down to flash home for second behind Solesseo Matuca. And it was those two who ran the quinella again in the Group 1 final, with the winner clocking a 1:54.5 mile rate on the back of 28.6sec and 27.2sec closing quarters.
DARING DRIVE CAPS MEMORABLE SEASON FOR HERB AND THE ANGOVES
The final stride of the 2021 season was a thing of beauty for James Herbertson, with the young reinsman producing a stunning drive to win with Ebonys Avenger, which lifted him to 200 wins for the season.
The Aldebaran Park two-year-old trotting fillies victory also gifted him his second Group 1 win and was a thrilling moment for trainer Chris Angove and owner/breeder Brad Angove, whose filly poked her nose through in the final stages to score.
The fourth victory of her short career didn’t come easy, with Ebonys Avenger sluggish initially, but Herbertson said she found her legs in the final half and, when the smallest of gaps emerged in the run to the line, she pounced.
“We were in a world of hurt, she just wouldn’t stretch out,” Herbertson said. “She warmed up very average, felt very average, (I) popped the plugs at the 800 and then we had a horse.
“From there the speed was solid enough that we were able to make up enough ground. Got through the middle really well.”
From three pegs at the final turn Herbertson and Ebonys Avenger had horses left, right and centre, but in the final 100 he nosed through a small gap between leaders Lindys Love and Just A Bit Touchy to score, with Aldebaran Vera running into a close second.
“She’s a lovely filly,” Herbertson said. “Very well educated and she’s just got real ability. Beautiful speed, she sprinted for a good 700 there, I can’t believe it.”
The victory gives him a second Group 1, his previous in May 2019 when winning the Australasian Trotting Championship with Savannah Jay Jay, and comes on the back of his Cranbourne Cup triumph with Supreme Dominator.
“It’s been a big year, that’s my 200 (wins) for the year,” he said. “A lot of kilometres on the road, a lot of people behind me who have gotten me there. I can’t thank everyone enough.”
