From the bright lights of Tabcorp Park Melton on a sparkling Saturday night to Wagga on Friday and everything in between, let’s catch up on the weekend that was in the trots.
Improvement in the stars
Here’s something ominous – Wrappers Delight, Shadow Sax and Ameretto will all improve markedly for the Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Cup on Saturday night after strong performances in the TAB Multiplier Smoken Up Sprint.
The trio filled the top three spots in the weekend’s Group 2 sprint at Tabcorp Park Melton, Wrappers Delight leading all the way and pacing 1:52.5 to narrowly hold off a fast-finishing Shadow Sax and Ameretto in third.
Moments after the race-winning drive, Kima Frenning declared Wrappers Delight had plenty left in the locker for the Vic Cup.
And this morning trainer Emma Stewart said she was “excited” with Shadow Sax’s effort and that he was “a run short” at the weekend. “He’ll improve a fair bit.”
Ameretto was first-up since June on Saturday night. When second-up last prep she impressively won the Group 1 Benstud Queen of the Pacific, so the pattern’s there. Further, she finished second in the Vic Cup last year behind Lennytheshark.
Chicago Bull is the clear favourite for the Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Cup. The WA star was last week announced the No.1 ranked horse for the TAB Inter Dominion.
But there’s a cavalry of Vic Cup contenders making their way south from New South Wales in search of glory, spearheaded by Kevin Pizzuto-trained Tiger Tara and Majordan, and Shane and Lauren Tritton-trained My Alpha Rock, Franco Nelson and Gotta Go Ya Hu.
Others from NSW possibly in the mix include Mach Doro, Tact Tate and Atomic Red.
Such is the depth of competition queueing for this year’s race there’s little doubt good horses in good form will consider themselves unlucky not to get a start.
And Tuesday’s barrier draw at the Amora Hotel in Richmond will be of vital importance.
Follow @TheTrotsComAU on Twitter for the latest from the barrier draw on Tuesday.
Here from all Saturday night’s winning drivers in this week’s All Clear:
Wicked rivalry grows
Lazarus’s second placing to McWicked at the weekend drew headlines out of the States.
The Australasian champ endured the toughest run in the race and kept pushing McWicked, who had the ideal run, to the wire.
And they shattered the clock, producing the second-fastest race mile in history – 1min 46.4 secs.
“I could not be prouder,” said Hall of Fame trainer Jimmy Takter.
The pair will clash again this coming Saturday at Yonkers in New York.
From @JimmyTakter live on @SkyRacingAU – “I could not be prouder. He didn’t get the trip we hoped. He covered at least 4len extra being out deep and that equates to a 1.45.6sec Mile.” Great get @GregHayes78
— Adam Hamilton (@AdamTABSports) October 6, 2018
Abridged unbeaten so far
Unbeaten Abridged looks destined for bigger things than Saturday night’s Peninsula Parklands Retirement Pace, but for now, after that win he’s five from five and his owners would be chuffed.
Trained by Emma Stewart, Abridged is a Mach Three four-year-old out of Panorama mare Abbreviated, whose progeny includes the smart Beaming.
The big Dance
Dance Craze cruised to victory in Saturday night’s Maori Miss Trotters Free-for-All, boogying home by 7.2m and landing trainer Anton Golino the race quinella (Golino also produced French-bred Destinee Jenilou, who ran second).
Dance Craze is beautifully bred; by Muscle Hill out of one of Australia’s modern day superstar trotting mares, La Coocaracha, whose exploits extend to the breeding barn, having produced horses like Reina Danzante (eight wins from 12) and La Grange (six from 21) among seven winners from nine foals to race.
Dance Craze had not raced since galloping out of contention as a $1.10 favourite in the Woodlands Stud Breeders Crown Championship.
Power play
It didn’t leave many quaddie players in a rapturous state, but Platinum Power’s owner-breeder-trainer Steve Zammit would have been ecstatic.
The six-year-old Modern Art mare paid $151 on TAB fixed odds winning the Keilor East Probus Pace at Tabcorp Park Melton on Saturday night in 1:53.9, making up ground from last and charging home out wide in the straight.
“The trainer has to take all the credit … Steve said this filly has a really rough chance, she’s been going terrific,” winning reinsman John Justice said post-race.
“She just sprouted wings. She’s done a good job tonight so she might go a bit further too.”
Crikey, there’s an upset! Platinum Power $151 fixed. @JasonBonnington did advise to play wide in the quad! To quote: “of all tonight’s many confusing races none confound quite as much as this”. Never a truer word spoken. #TheTrots
— Cody Winnell (@codywinnell) October 6, 2018
Meteoric plans
The TAB Inter Dominion series will suit Motu Meteor down to the ground, according to trainer-driver Kerryn Manning.
“He’s tough and he can run speed,” Manning said following Motu Meteor’s narrow first-up win in the Caesia Garden Caroline Springs Pace.
The son of Bettors Delight held off Winkanditsover by a head in 1:56.2 as a $1.20 favourite.
“That’s the sort of horse he is … he’s very laid back and only does what he has to,” Manning said.
“He’ll take a fair bit out of this … the more he races the better he gets. It’s good to get a score on the board.”
Motu Meteor is raced by Merv and Meg Butterworth and looks set to chase success in country cups between now and ID18 in a bid to climb the rankings.
Pizzuto pair firing
Kevin Pizzuto pair Majordan and Tiger Tara will arrive in Victoria at the pinnacle of their power.
Majordan went 1:49.2 and ran his rivals ragged to win the Paul Fitzpatrick Free-for-All at Menangle on Saturday night, while Tiger Tara launched from downtown to finish 5m behind in second – he was almost 30m off the lead at the quarter, so his last furlong was monstrous.
Both will line up in Saturday night’s Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Cup at Melton.
Earlier at Menangle former Victorian free-for-aller Maximan won the Harris Family Pace for trainers Shane and Lauren Tritton, pacing 1:51.4 to defeat Mojo Major with Lachie Manzelmann in the gig.
“He’s probably about 85% fit.” It’s a quinella for Kevin Pizzuto in the Group 3 feature at @TPMenangle with Majordan & Tiger Tara NZ. Next stop, @PrydesEasiFeed Victoria Cup! #TheTrots @TheTrotsComAu @HRNSW_Harness pic.twitter.com/4C8LCyqbLg
— Ashlea Brennan (@ashbrennanphoto) October 6, 2018
Rogers reigns
SA reinsman Ken Rogers roasted rivals on Saturday night with a treble at Port Pirie.
Rogers won with Antaeus Blue Chip, Brohart and Tossup.
Leah Harvey trained and drove Nevaevabend to win on debut as a five-year-old mare, the daughter of Blissfull Hall a full-sister to Nevabendtherules, who won 12 races from 29.
Goonly gaps them first-up
Emma Stewart produced a top training effort to score with six-year-old Mach Three entire Goonly at Ballarat on Friday night.
Driven by Kima Frenning, Goonly had a 13.7 margin over his nearest competitor in the Geoffrey Templeton Memorial Pace, rating 1:57.6.
Goonly has now won six races from nine starts.
Meanwhile, Bonza Guy won the Katherine Maliko Pace for trainer-driver Gary Leech at big odds ($37.70). The son of Union Guy went into the race in terrific form, having finished top-three at his previous six runs.
Lightly raced 6yo GOONLY @KimaFrenning for @TonkinStewart goes 1:57.6 to score at first outing since March last year in GEOFFREY TEMPLETON MEMORIAL C2-C3 PACE @Bdtc150 R4 pic.twitter.com/QP4NJO2675
— BDTC (@Bdtc150) October 5, 2018
Romance blooms at Wagga
Jennas Romance won the fifth at Wagga like an odds-on pop should on Friday night. The problem for punters was that she was a $126 shot.
The daughter of Million Dollar Cam cruised home by over 10 metres for trainer-driver Grant Forrest in the Income Tax Professionals Pace over 2165m in 2:00.8.
Phillip Walters meanwhile also had success at Wagga, winning with fourth race with five-year-old Rocknroll Hanover mare Mio Christisimo, Mark Buckingham took the sixth with Bernice Okane, and Four Shotzzz continued his winning form – making it five victories straight – in the last race for trainer Brad Aylett.
Blake Jones drove Four Shotzzz and walked away with a winning double for the meeting.
