Master trainer Chris Lang feels like he is winding back the clock.
The man crowned the “King of Trotting” through the early 2000s is having one heck of a renaissance.
He and partner Sonia Mahar only have five horses in work but won the Group 1 Bill Collins Trotters’ Sprint last Saturday week and have raging hot favourite Verbici in Sunday’s Group 1 Redwood Classic at Maryborough.
“Setting really nice horses for the biggest races, yes it does feel like I’m winding back the clock a bit,” Lang said.
“To only have five in work, but two of them stars, that’s really satisfying for Sonia and I.”
Stars were bread and butter for Lang in his halcyon days. There was Sundons Gift, Let Me Thru, Skyvalley, National Interest, Kyvalley Road, Jauriol and so many others winning Group 1 races galore.
While I Am Wilma is having a break before major targets like the Maori Mile and Great Southern Star early next year, Verbici has one last mission in his so far unblemished first season of racing.
The gelding is chasing his ninth win and his fifth feature race in the Redwood.
“A couple of the owners said early in the season, the Redwood was the race they wanted to win, but I told them it’s the hardest of the lot and I still think that,” Lang said.
“It’s open to all-comers, compared to some of the restricted sales’ races and Vicbred he’s won, but more so it’s a standing start race for two-year-old trotters. By nature, they can be a lottery as to who steps away well.”
All Verbici’s eight wins have been from a mobile, but Lang took the young star to the Melton trials for some standing-start practice yesterday (Tuesday).
“The track attendant and staff were great. They let me have a couple of practice goes in the warm-up, and then he stepped away super in the trial itself. I couldn’t have been happier,” Lang said.
“He’s got the attitude and temperament to match his talent, but you don’t want to count your chickens with a two-year-old trotter. What I’ll say is I’m more worried about one of his rivals galloping and getting his way than him making a mistake.
“That’s why I don’t mind drawing out a bit wider in barrier six. He’s got a bit more room.”
The temperament has helped Verbici take on a travel schedule which would overwhelm most young trotters. He’s gone to Menangle (Sydney) and won twice and up and back to Wagga twice as well.
“He’s been a revelation and we’re so lucky to have him,” Lang said.
Verbici is a commanding favourite to give Lang his fourth Redwood Classic training win. His others came during a purple patch with Kyvalley Road (2002), Jauriol (2004) and Andys Favourite (2005).
Lang drove the first two but was aboard stablemate Right Interest when Max Wishart won for him aboard Andys Favourite.
The obvious question is where Verbici sits with Lang’s long list of young trotting stars?
“As I told a few people at the trials (yesterday), ask me on Monday and I’ll let you know then,” he laughed. “I will say he’s got to be comparable given the amazing job he’s done.”
The Lang clan has played a pivotal role in the Redwood since its inception in 1986.
Lang’s brother, the late Gavin Lang, won the first running on Young Trouper and scored again aboard Andandon in 2000.
Their father, the late Graeme Lang, scored back-to-back wins with Fickle Friend (1992) and the outstanding Wagon Apollo (1993).
