A huge crowd packed the lawns at Tabcorp Park Melton to witness first hand Tiger Tara’s obliteration of his rivals in Saturday night’s Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Cup.

The emphatic win firmed the Kevin Pizzuto trained eight-year-old in TAB Inter Dominion markets, and gave the New South Wales based stable enormous confidence ahead of a trip across the Tasman for the New Zealand Trotting Cup.

The night’s other Group 1 winner was trotter Tornado Valley, whose whirlwind ascent to arguably be Australia’s best squaregaiter has been impressive.

Trained by Andy Gath and driven by his wife, Kate, Tornado Valley landed the Aldebaran Park Bill Collins Trotters Sprint first-up from a spell, fending off top-class rivals who had race-fitness on their side.

Tornado Valley is likely to also head to NZ in coming weeks before returning to Victoria for the TAB ID18 trotting series.

TUNE IN TO ALL CLEAR BELOW TO HEAR FROM ALL OF SATURDAY NIGHT'S WINNERS:

 

Tassie Star shines

Trainer Bianca Heenan landed the DNR Logistics Pace with 10-year-old Star Chamber to open proceedings at Melton on Saturday night.

In the glowing sunlight, and with the food truck precinct already going off, the crowd saw Star Chamber afforded a beautiful drive by Jodi Quinlan.

The veteran gelding – a son of the mighty pacer Our Sir Vancelot – powered by Star Of Memphis in the shadows of the post to win the M1-M2 clash in a mile rate of 1:54.2.

Heenan trains from Brighton in Tasmania, where she is currently second on the State Trainers Premiership, 11 wins behind Ben Yole, but she has had 220 fewer starters than the goliath Yole operation.

Star Chamber has been a terrific racehorse and has earned stakes of over $217k.

He contested a Hunter Cup in 2016, finishing 11th, and beat Lets Elope to win the City of Launceston Cup in late 2015.

The journeyed pacer also boasts a Devonport Cup win in 2015 and a Tasmania Cup win over Im Corzin Terror in 2015, so he was well-placed at the weekend.

 

Close finish

Overall finishes don’t get much closer than the third race at HQ on Saturday night.

The field for the TAB Multiplier Trot was separated by 4.4m, with the first five over the line separated by a half-neck.

Rock Tonight won for Chris Alford and Brent Lilley – one of four Alford wins for the night – but Super Zeck may be the story here, with the veteran trotter showing glimpses of the form that had him one of the fast-class squaregaiting stars of 2016.

 

Another win for Witch

Village Witch conjured her third Group 3 success at the weekend with victory in the Norms Daughter Stakes on Saturday night at Tabcorp Park Menangle.

The Jason Grimson trained and driven eight-year-old defeated Eye See Diamonds and Du Vella in 1:52.3 for the mile.

The win should come as no surprise – and she was odds-on favourite – because in the last month the only three horses that have finished ahead of the daughter of Village Jasper have been Victoria Cup winner Tiger Tara, and fast-class stars Majordan and Mach Doro.

 

Hot Spot success

Yayas Hot Spot is closing in on $500k career earnings after taking out the Macarthur Automotive Pace at Menangle on Saturday night.

The fan favourite, a son of Jeremes Jet, beat stablemate Mach Beauty in 1:52.5 to move to over $488k in lifetime earnings.

Yayas Hot Spot is ranked 60 in the TAB Inter Dominion race and will likely look to spring up the charts in coming weeks.

Shane and Lauren Tritton train Yayas Hot Spot and finished with a Menangle double at the weekend after 10-year-old Maximan won the third race in 1:51.8.

Jim Douglass drove Maximan and Jack Trainor had the steer aboard Yayas.

 

No slowing Sally down

Victorian owned trotter Barefoot Sally won the Evans and Sons Jewellers Trotters Mobile at Menangle on Saturday night.

Geoff and Lorraine Barnes – Balmain Lodge – bred and race the eight-year-old mare by Bacardi Lindy out of Strapon, who previously enjoyed success in Victoria by winning the Haras Des Trotteurs Sweetheart Trot Final in 2015.

Darren McCall is the veteran mare’s trainer and driver nowadays.

 

Four for Dixon

The Grant Dixon juggernaut produced four winners at Redcliffe on Saturday night, including taking out the September Trotters Cup with former Victorian Mister Gunsen.

The 10-year-old Sundon gelding paid $34 and upstaged stablemate favourite Miracle Rising by 3.9m in the standing-start race.

Both Paul Grech and Matthew Craven had success with Mister Gunsen in Victoria, and the horse also had a short stint with Eddie Conroy.

 

Cross, Hart and hope to fly

Craig Cross and Ashley Hart combined for three winners at Newcastle on Saturday night.

It opened with the first, Pacman Hammer saluting as an odds-on pop for Victorian owners Shane and Peter Noonan and Dom Martello, before $12 shot Bettor Than Best won the fourth.

The treble was secured in Race 7 when Ima Kennedy Two ($7.5) upstaged the $1.18 favourite Power Surge.

Michael Formosa also enjoyed a winning double courtesy of Eagle Star in the sixth and Rolling With Stell in the last.

 

Dani Hill show returns

It was the Dani Hill show again at Globe Derby on Saturday night, the champion reinswoman piloting four winners.

Blurred Lines, Golden Jaylet, Saab Magic and Blinding Light were Hill’s successes, placing her second overall on the national drivers’ premiership – 18 wins behind Victoria’s Chris Alford.

 

Treble for Yole

Ben Yole trained three winners at Hobart’s Friday night meeting and young reinsman Connor Crook piloted two of them.

Yole and Crook combined with No Apachemee in the second and Monarkmac in the fifth, while Yole’s treble was capped in Race 7 via Hes Tight Lipped for another concession driver in Troy McDonald.

 

King swings on

Over in Western Australia King Of Swing made it seven wins from his past eight starts for the all-conquering Gary Hall Snr and Jnr combination on Friday night.

The four-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover took out the Retravision Online Pace in 1:56.6, with Extreme Prince finishing second to land the stable the quinella.

Meanwhile, exciting mare Eden Franco won her 13th race at start No.29 for Colin Brown, rating 1:55.6 for the 2130m trip.