Bella Mason and Amelia Walliss have been stars throughout the 2022 Pony Trot Victoria Inter Dominion and the pair shone the brightest in the last round of qualifying heats at Shepparton on Tuesday evening.

Bella’s pony Blaze and Amelia’s pony Lightning Jack not only won their respective heats but also recorded their fastest times this series.

“This is the eighth trophy I have won,” Bella said. “I’ve won seven country cups as well. I love Blaze and think he is the best.”

There were some happy tears and now both drivers and ponies will represent Victoria in the 2022 Pony Trot Inter Dominion at Melton on December 10 – a big privilege according to Pony Trots Victoria manager Jenni Lewis.

“Bella was so excited, it was her first heat win of the series,” Lewis said.

Amelia and Lightning Jack have dominated the series so far, winning both heats in the first round at Melton on Breecers Crown semi-finals night (November 12).

A week later the second round of heats were held at Melton with wins going the way of Bronte Lee and her pony JB Sparkle and Riley Pace and Where’s Wally.

All winners recorded fast times in their heats and will represent Victoria in the ID22 Final.

The Victorian representatives are Riley Pace and Where’s Wally (Mini), Bohdi Lee and Lil Apache (Mini), Amelia Walliss and Lightning Jack (Shetland), Josh Holm and Ruby (Shetland), Bella Mason and Blaze (Pony), and Bronte Lee and JB Sparkle (Pony).

“The representatives will wear Victorian colours and receive a special rug for their pony,” Lewis said.

The series for harness racing’s young stars will continue off the track according to Harness Racing Victoria’s Kima Frenning.

“We have a farm tour at Yabby Dam Farms on December 9 for all pony trot participants and then a dinner at Ballarat that night,” Frenning said.

Then it is straight back to business with the ID22 Finals at Melton on Saturday night. Acceptors for the ID22 Pony Trot Finals are as follows:

Mini category:
Flash and Mason Bigeni (NSW)
Bullit Proof and Morgan Coney (NSW)
Summer Rose and Amity Moritz (South Australia)
Emily Laurenson (New Zealand)
Kitty Whiteface and Kenzie Rattray (Tasmania)
Milly Mouse and Lauren Rattray (Tasmania)
The Cisco Kid and Jordan Lange (Victoria)
Pretty Cool and Ajay Baker (Victoria)
Where’s Wally and Riley Pace (Victoria REP)
Teddy and Tyler/Lacy Hausler (Victoria)
Lil Apache and Bohdi Lee (Victoria REP)

Shetland category:
Rockstar Oreo and Luke Thurgood (Queensland)
Playingbytherules and Meaghan McNee (Queensland)
Mr Rocket Fuel and Rylee Kiddle (NSW)
Sir Eric and George Lee (NSW)
Thomas Towers (New Zealand)
Super Mario and Marnee Formosa (South Australia)
Smokin Hot and Charlie Brown (South Australia)
Coco and Ebony Mason (Victoria)
Lightning Jack and Amelia Walliss (Victoria REP)
Shatahn and Katie Thomson (Victoria)
Ruby and Josh Holm (Victoria REP)

Pony category:
Toogoodforyou and Briana Davis (Queensland)
Twist of Fate and Hannah Anforth (Queensland)
Velvets Little Star and Mia McMillan (NSW)
Mr Fantangle and Reba Brown (NSW)
TP Manhattan and Ollie Gregory (New Zealand)
Sugar Rush and Ollie Stauwer (South Australia)
Flash Caviar and Charlie Brown (South Australia)
Chamfer’s Star and Tamsyn Davis (Tasmania)
Mozart and Alec Macdonald (Tasmania)
Buddy Major and Cohen Tindale (Victoria)
Blaze and Bella Mason (Victoria REP)
J B Sparkle and Bronte Lee (Victoria REP)