Well Defined has taken a stranglehold on the Maori's Idol Trotting Championship after an extraordinary fourth Cup win during yesterday's super Sunday of country cups racing.

The Kate Hargreaves-trained trotter added the Wangaratta title to wins at Boort, Terang and Ararat, which - in addition to a second placing at Cobram - saw him ascend to 23 points in the championship, 12 clear of second-placed Travel Bug. 

The result was a headliner on a big Sunday of racing, which kicked off with racing at Birchip and continued with the Wangarratta Cups at Shepparton, where I Cast No Shadow won the day's other feature for Brent Lilley.

Len Baker produced the following report for thetrots.com.au.

Wangaratta: Lilley runner leaves them in his Shadow

The Wangaratta Cup, held at Shepparton, was keenly attended by patrons.

Five year old ex-Kiwi gelding I Cast No Shadow returned to the winners' list for the first time since last October with a tough victory in the $14,500 North East Fasteners Wangaratta Pacing Cup over 2190 metres.

Trained by Brent Lilley and driven by Chris Alford for Queensland owner Diane Reilly, I Cast No Shadow started from gate four on the second line and settled six back in the moving line, with only Uncle Jord drawn outside him at the rear. Mummys Boy, up in class, led from gate three for David Moran and reinsman Leigh Sutton.

The running line changed several times, with Boy From Bondi the last to go forward from midfield and race exposed at the bell, when Alford sent I Cast No Shadow forward three wide uncovered for the final circuit.

Sustaining a long run, I Cast No Shadow reached the lead on turning with Uncle Jord poised to pounce, which he did.

Driven vigorously, I Cast No Shadow refused to give in and scored by a head in a thrilling finish, with Major Jodi the run of the race to finish third, just 2.6 metres away after recovering from galloping wildly on the home turn and losing valuable ground. The mile rate was 1:57.8 (last half 56.8, last quarter 28 seconds).

Wangaratta: Season defining trotter marches on

There appears to be no way of stopping six-year-old Majestic Son-Focus On Me gelding Well Defined at present after he made it four country cup in a row when successful in the 2690-metre Reflex Glass/J & T Joinery Wangaratta Trotters Cup.

Trained by Kate Hargreaves at Shelbourne (Marong), Well Defined was driven as usual by Ellen Tormey and began swiftly from 30 metres, avoiding a couple of gallopers in the early stages.

Improving quickly, Well Defined strode clear entering the straight with two laps to travel before surrendering the front to Robbie Royale (20m) mid-race.

Backmarker Monaro Mia made a swift move forward from the tail at the bell to race exposed, giving outsider Your Nicked one/one cover, and the race was his to lose following a third in the Group 1 Australian Trotting Grand Prix at Tabcorp Park Melton a week earlier.

Monaro Maro applied plenty of pressure to Robbie Royale on the final bend, which allowed Well Defined to ease three wide around them and finish full of running, nabbing Monaro Mia by a head on the wire, with Robbie Royale holding down third 13.3 metres away. The mile rate 2:02.5.

Birchip: A day out for Michael Bellman 

At Birchip’s only meeting for the season, both features over 2150 metres carried a stake of $4500 and a large crowd was in attendance to witness the day's racing.

The keenly sought after 33rd running of the Sharp’s Bakery Mallee Bull Pacing Cup was taken out by Moolerr (St Arnaud), part-owner/trainer Denis McIntyre’s home bred seven-year-old gelding Dot The Eye in a mile rate of 2:00.6. McIntyre was a long-time President of the St Arnaud club.

Driven by Michael Bellman, Dot The Eye started from gate three on the second line and settled five back in the moving line as polemarker Real Dash led with Creative Lad outside him.

Easing three wide approaching the bell, Dot The Eye was accommodated by Travelnpastyou (one/two) coming out ahead of him with Carload from last joining the three wide train.

When Creative Lad dashed past the pacemaker prior to the home turn, Travelnpastyou was hot in pursuit with both Dot The Eye and Carload trailing.

Finishing best, Dot The Eye gained the prize by two metres from a game Travelnpastyou, with Carload five metres back in third place, a head in advance of favourite Cee Cee In America, who was badly held up at a vital stage.

The inaugural TMC Enviro Mallee Bull Trotters Cup saw Bolinda trainer Brent Lilley make the long journey worthwhile when snaring the trifecta, with Mass Destruction defeating Father Christmas and Galleons Victory in a track record mile rate of 2:06.4, giving Mick Bellman the feature double.

Beginning swiftly from 10 metres to lead, the Kiwi owned 7Y0 gelded son of Muscle Mass and Tijuana Glass was rated to perfection to register a 3.5-metre win over Father Christmas (10m), who trailed before easing off his back on the home turn to challenge.

Equal 20m back marker Galleons Victory (four back the markers – one/one at bell – three wide home turn) was third 7.3 metres back.