Returning to winning form yesterday, handy trotter Kings Guard will attempt to end the season the same way he finished it.
As a result of a programming change, Kings Guard will round out 2025 in the Cobram Trotters Cup on December 28.
Last January, the Stephen Boyington-trained gelding started the year by winning the Cobram Trotters Cup!
“It’s a bit strange the race is being run twice in the same season, but that’s the way we will head with him,” Boyington said. “The conditions have changed this time though, so it is going to be a lot tougher.
“He’s pretty much on the same National Rating he was in January, but he began from 10 metres then and will be off 40 this time.
“It’s over 2678 metres though, so it gives him plenty of time to make up the ground.”
As for his return to the winners’ circle, Kings Guard proved too good in the Gunbower Trotters Cup to register his first success since Cobram.
With Boyington in the cart, Kings Guard was settled three back in the running line from the 10-metre mark as Thunda Struck worked to the lead. Angled four wide along the back straight, the son of Love You sustained a strong sprint to score by eight-and-a-half metres from El Conqueror.
Bennie And The Jets was four metres away third in 2:04.9 over 2630 metres.
“His figure form didn’t look great, but he had been going better than it looked, so I gave him a strong chance,” Boyington said. “It was also a drop in grade on what he has been racing, which helped.
“He was always travelling well, and although I had to go a bit earlier with him than I wanted, he responded well and kept finding all the way to the line.”
Later on the card, Crime Writer broke a nine-month drought to secure the Gunbower Pacing Cup for trainer Matthew Craven and driver Hannah Lewis.
Rating 1:58.3 over 2630 metres as Diamond Eclipse and Herakles filled the placings, Crime Writer registered his first victory since Melton on May 24.
