A big win for New York-bound Sparkling Success has headlined night one of Breeders Crown racing, the first of a two massive nights at Tabcorp Park Melton.
Trainer John Meade and reinsman Chris Svanosio talked to Trots Vision about tonight’s big run and the path ahead for their talented trotter, who will fly out on September 15 to contest the Yonkers International.
It was also a night for several other horses to make big statements, with Love Ina Chevy, Audi Hare and Kheiron all saluting and their connections then declaring they would take a crack at Victoria’s pacing and trotting Inter Dominion series.
It was a fantastic way to headline night one of Breeders Crown, which will crank up another notch with tomorrow’s eight Group 1s and two Group 2s.
Read on for a blow-by-blow account.
10.10pm: The night closes with Loveisamyth saluting in the last – the Cogs Pace Final – saluting for Matthew Horsnell and a third win for trainer Brent Lilley, upstaging favourite Phoenix Prince who struggled with the hot tempo and failed to place.
“For Lills to give me an opportunity on this one is a massive thrill,” said Horsnell as he continues his ascent in the driving ranks.
9.45pm: An eventful Woodlands Stud Breeders Crown Championship for four-year-old trotting mares has produced a stunning result, with Margaret Jean saluting at $60 for trainer Chris Svanosio and driver Mark Pitt.
$1.10 favourite Dance Craze twice looked to have the race in his keeping, but broke gait early and unsettled the field, recovered to look the winner in the straight before breaking a second time.
That opened the door for an upset and Margaret Jean swept past third-placed Betty Hall to claim the Crown, with Andyou running into second.
Owner Jason Ross said he gave Margaret Jean “no chance at all” heading in. “I was just hoping she’d trot and to run fifth or sixth would have been a win for us. That was just incredible – Steve Bradbury I think. I thought we might be a chance for top four here and when it happened again up the straight I couldn’t believe it.”
Pitt said while fortune favoured the trotter, she was deserving of her Crown. “She only needed a bit of luck. Obviously (Dance Craze) drawing away helped us a lot, but she was going to run a nice race either way. It is very special, they’re not slouches these horses, they’re the best mares for the four-year-old season.”
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9.15pm: Impressive trotter Kheiron shot to the front and never looked like losing, securing a Woodlands Stud Breeders Crown Championship trophy to go with the Aldebaran Park Vicbred Super Series title he claimed in July.
“It was terrific,” reinsman Chris Alford told Trots Vision. “He came out really well and once he got the front he was in control. He was nice and relaxed and when it was time to go at the top of the straight he really kicked on.”
Alford said “the way he’s improving he’d keep up with them good” come December’s Trotting Inter Dominion, and co-owner Anita Burke confirmed that December’s big race was on the radar.
“We always thought he’d have a good four and five-year-old season,” Burke said. “It’s been a super season and I hope he’s even better next one. We’d like to think we could get (to the Inter Dominion), I don’t know if he would rank high enough to get a run in the heats, but we’d definitely like to aim at it. We’ve been dreaming it so hopefully it can be something we can achieve. Just to even compete in it is an honour.”
Kheiron will now be off for a spell before “hopefully coming back bigger and better”.
8.45pm: And another one may be Inter Dominion bound with David Aiken suggesting Audi Hare’s impressive recent form had prompted a rethink and an intent to nominate the five-year-old Mach Three – who at the start of the season was a C0 – for December’s big dance.
Audi Hare held off Our Golden Goddess and Nikki Badwagon to salute in tonight’s Always B Miki Breeders Crown Graduate Pacers Free For All, which was a ripping showdown.
Reinsman David Moran said the key to Audi Hare was that ”he’s just started to settle”.
“He had to burn pretty quick tonight out of the gate, but then he got a good quarter in. He’s getting better and better every start.”
Aiken said that meant they were able to reconsider their plans.
“We were really worried about him a few months back that he was just a 1700m horse, he wasn’t settling in his races, pulling hard. We changed a little bit of gear on him and he started to relax. He’s got dangerous speed. He’s come from a C0 this year to this, he’s made over a $100,000 in a season after earning probably $8000 last year in New Zealand. We’ve got to reasses now. Four months ago we were shipping off to America, but seens that he’s settled we’ll put a nomination in for the Inter Dominion. (Owner) Dianne (Reilly), she loves the horses, loves the racing, and she’d love to have a horse in the Inter Dominion.”
8.20pm: Another terrifc win for wonder horse Love Ina Chevy and trainer Lance Justice, who forecast that big things may be on the horizon for his gelding.
Talking to Rob Auber post-race on Trots Vision Justice said Love Ina Chevy was racing so well that the stable might consider directing him towards December’s Inter Dominion, which returns to Victoria for the first time since 2008.
Reinsman Greg Sugars sat on the leader’s back and come the straight zipped past Dynamic Bromac to win at $6.60, a 19th career win by the Jeremes Jet six-year-old who was famously almost lost to a snakebit some three years ago.
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7.40pm: Yonkers bound Sparkling Success puts in a ripping performance to overcome his back row draw and send a warning across the Pacific with an eye-catching win in the Woodlands Stud Breeders Crown Graduate Trotters Free For All.
Maori Law loomed large at the head of proceedings but Courchevel held the front, which left Gavin Lang and his contender parked. Chris Svanosio loomed on Sparkling Success but didn’t waste any time shooting to the front and it would prove the winning move as he held the field at bay to take line honours.
It was great to hear from the connections and Harness Racing Australia Chairman Michael Taranto post-race.
Sparkling Success’s reinsman Chris Svanosio:
“Meadey was able to get him eight weeks off. He’s just brought him up with plenty of time, he’s worked it all out perfectly. This was the race he won last year and really sort of stamped himself as one of the top horses and to get it done again tonight when he’s not far off travelling overseas is just fantastic.
“Obviously Maori Law is a top horse and he was going to be hard to beat if he found the front or was in front of me. I was hoping I could get close enough to him and I was pretty happy I could get to the front and make him sit outside me. I thought I was going to have to force Gav on to the front, but I was pretty happy to do a bit of work with him tonight. He’s third up and Meadey thought he was just getting back to his top, so I was happy to do a bit work on him tonight and he felt terrific.
“I didn’t ever get going for him too hard. He was always travelling pretty good. It’s been a long time since his spell and bringing him back up and it’s pretty good when he gets the job done.”
Sparkling Success’s trainer John Meade:
“I haven’t got my bags packed, but we are selling the cows on Thursday – that’s the biggest event that’s going to happen in my life, other than the trip to America. We thought we might start him here on the 8th, there’s a mile race. We are going to lose a week travelling. He’s come up all right now. We were under a bit of pressure before tonight. It feels pretty good to win tonight. I really wanted to win a race to get the monkey off my back. This is his sixth run without winning a race. He’s been favourite six times in a row and this is the first time he’s won. This really makes me feel happy. He’s booked to fly out on the 15th, they are going to pick him up from my house on the 12th, because he’s got to get some vets checks in Sydney. There’s a lot of things I don’t know yet, there’s probably a lot of things when I come home I won’t know either, but anyway. We are going, I still haven’t got my visa, I haven’t got a credit card, and I haven’t got a mobile phone. I’ve got a passport, I’ve only got to just get on my computer – computers and me aren’t real good – I’ve been busy trying to get my licence and organise my cows for sale.”
Harness Racing Australia chairman Michael Taranto:
“It’s extremely special. I’m so happy for John. He’s certainly putting in the preparation. As he said the horse will leave on the 15th. He’s going to stable up with Jonas Czernyson, Aldebaran Park’s trainer in New Jersey. They will have a really good three weeks in the lead up to the International. It really is mind-boggling stuff to think Australia is going to finish the year having a representative in the major European race (Maori Time) and major American race. The way it’s going, he may very well get up there and justify staying there for races like the Breeders Crown. I’m very confident. The 2240m (tonight), the Yonkers race is a mile and a quarter, so it’s great to see the form he has over those longer distances. He’s going to be competitive, his now going up there with the right form.”
7.05pm: Win number 296 for trainer Emma Stewart and number 28 for Metro Mike as the veteran pacer salutes via the sprint lane for Chris Alford.
“They don’t win 28 races if they don’t have any ability,” Alford told TrotsVision’s Rod Auber. “He hasn’t raced since last September so to turn up, no trials, they did a great job getting him ready. He struggled a little bit when he got to the sprint lane but his last 100 he straightened up and hit the line well.”
It promises to be a big couple of nights for Alford, who shared his best in tomorrow night’s Group 1 feast.
“I’ve got a lot of great drives. All good hard races though, so we need no bad luck in any. Speak No Evil looks the best on paper with Stress Factor. Centenario, Kualoa, Sleepee all got chances if things go right.”
6.35pm: Josh Duggan may have told TrotsVision’s Rod Auber “he doesn’t like those close ones” but he timed it to perfection to night to guide Kyvalley Topcat to victory in the Yabby Dam Racing Breeders Crown Graduate Trot.
A $10.80 pop on the tote, Kyvalley Topcat saluted for trainer Brent Lilley and Duggan, who told Auber a big night also lay ahead tomorrow night when he will hunt his first Group 1 win in the sulky.
“I’ve got three (tomorrow), the trotter Fields Of Kyvalley, he just seems to keep getting better and better,” Duggan said. “He’s got a pretty tough race but if there’s a lot of speed on I’m sure he will be finishing hard. Tidal Surge, he’s another one who just keeps getting better. He’s got another hard race, he’s drawn six with Centenario and Hurricane Harley and all those other two-year-olds. Then I’ve just got Braeview Bondi in the three-year-olds, which is a pretty cracking race. Anything can probably win that, it just depends on how hard they go.”
6.15pm: Lovely touch on the Twittersphere via Alabar’s Brett Coffey featuring training great Mark Purdon, who took the time to catch up with his old mate Vincent while in Victoria.
Love this photo of Mark Purdon and Vincent.
Amazing to see. pic.twitter.com/NvHlveu7IP
— Brett Coffey (@brettcoffey) August 24, 2018
6.05pm: Trainer-driver Gavin Lang worked King Soloman to the front and the $3.10 favourite held off back row threat Itz Billy Hillis to salute in the TAB Multiplier Breeders Crown Graduate Pace.
“When he first came out from New Zealand he came out with a bit of a reputation,” Lang told TrotsVision’s Rod Auber. “He was good as a three-year-old, went AWOL for a little bit and his two runs this preparation indicate that he’s on the right track. Very pleasing.”
Looking ahead, Lang will take the reins of Maori Law in one of tonight’s showcase races – the Woodlands Stud Breeders Crown Graduate Trotters Free For All – and said “it’s always a tough gig to come back from where you left off, his run last week was full of merit. With natural improvement hopefully I might find my way on to the lead tonight and give them something to chase.”
Tomorrow night Lang’s drives including Anywhere Hugo, “whose proved he’s in the top bracket of his age group” and Moonshine Linda, who’s “drawn back, which isn’t ideal but she’s racing really well”. Lang added “they’re two good hopes.”
5.30pm: A feelgood story to kick things off with Make Every Scents winning in 1:55.6 in the opener – the Schweppes Pace – a $16,000 MO.
Reinswoman Kima Frenning told TrotsVision’s Rod Auber the victory is reward for her connections who elected to send the Four Starzzz Shark mare back to the track after failed attempts to get her in foal.
“They gave her another go and (trainer David Aiken’s) done a really good job with her and I’m really happy to get the drive on her,” Frenning said.
“She has been racing really well without a great lot of luck so it was definitely her turn tonight.”
Frenning’s next drive will be behind Wrappers Delight in the highly anticipated Hygain Breeders Crown Championship.
“I’m very, very excited – a little bit nervous – but very excited,” Frenning said. “We will definitely look to be positive out of the gait and then see what happens. He’s just such a versatile horse, he’s both quick and strong. I’m very happy with the way he’s worked this week.”
5pm: Headliners Sparkling Success and Maori Law step out at 7.30pm in the Woodlands Stud Breeders Crown Graduate Trotters Free For All, a Group 2 with TAB.com.au markets enlisting Maori Law a $1.60 into $1.45 favourite from gate seven.
John Meade’s Group 1 winner, Sparkling Success, will start from gate 12 and has been rock solid at $3.70 to secure his first win this campaign.
The night also features Woodlands Stud Breeders Crown Championship races for four-year-old boys, with Kheiron a well-backed $2.40 favourite for the 9pm spin, to be followed by the championship for four-year-old mares, which is an Anton Golino dominated affair including $1.15 favourite Dance Craze.
And the pacers will also get a turn with the Always B Miki Breeders Crown Graduate at 8.30pm. The $60,000 Group 2 has seen Kerryn Manning’s Our Golden Goddess shorten into a $1.35 after the scratching of former favourite Shadow Sax.
So much to look forward too and plenty of ways to soak it up.
In addition to the Sky Racing and RSN 927 coverage you can of course get extended, free coverage via Trots Vision here at ww.thetrots.com.au, where MC Rob Auber will again be on-course for all the post-race interviews and celebrations.
And you can get prepped for the big night courtesy of Blake Redden’s extensive form breakdown at www.goodform.trot.com.au,including the Game Plan, his speed maps and his race-by-race breakdown.
But wait, there’s more. Jason Bonnington and Blake Redden also dished up two special Breeders Crown editions of their Grand Circuit podcast. Some must listening for all trots fans.
Click here for edition one and here for edition two.
And stay tuned to thetrots.com.au for rolling updates.
