Bangholme owner/breeder Georgina Coram has been around horses for most of her life and at Melton on Friday one of her favourites produced another race track thrill.
Home-bred seven-year-old Majestic Son-Annika gelding Lunchwitharthur, named after long time bookmaker Arthur Bell, who operated all over the state including the Mildura Cup Carnival where lunches were the order of the day, resumed racing in the Nutrien Trotters Mobile over 2240 metres and what a race it turned out to be.
Now in the care of veteran Melton district trainer Robbie O’Connell after transferring from Cameron Maggs (Euroa), Lunchwitharthur was first-up since April and tardily away from gate six, giving his rivals a big start as polemarker Prettylilangus led in a slick tempo.
Not bustled to tack on to the field by reinsman Zac Phillips, Lunchwitharthur, who has always shown tremendous potential, gained a glorious three wide trail home from the bell on the back of Golden Sunset.
And, despite making the final bend four and five wide, rattled home at a great rate to register a runaway 2.6-metre win over Jazspur, who trailed the leader from gate three before angling away from the markers on turning.
Hot favourite Aldebaran Dino, after being set alight from near last to lead at the bell, held down third a head away.
In quarters of 30.2, 29.4, 29.3 and 29.5, Lunchwitharthur returned a mile rate of 1:58.8 in recording his eighth success in 46 outings.
And for Coram it was another memorable moment in a long line of family success.
She is the daughter of Lloyd, a member of a famous Victorian name in the sport headed by grandfather Ben and uncle Bruce. They were regular competitors in the early days, especially during the halcyon times of the Melbourne Showgrounds.
Coram has always had an interest in the trots, successfully racing standardbreds while also being a committee member of the Cranbourne Harness Racing Club and rarely misses a meeting there.