Drought-breaking filly out to give Neil another thrill

Atego Dawn is already a special horse to Neil Rowley, but will enter a whole new stratosphere if she is able to land the hobby horseman a Group 1 at Melton this Saturday night.

The filly provided Rowley with a triumph more than a decade in the making when she broke her maiden at Kilmore in November last year, with the result just the 68-year-old’s sixth career winner as a trainer and first since Lord Deville scored at Tabcorp Park Melton on March 10, 2011.

And after a dominant display in last week’s Aldebaran Park Vicbred Platinum Home Grown Classic heat for three-year-old trotting fillies, Atego Dawn goes into the final as one of the key winning chances.

Her 20.3m victory came in a mile rate of 2:01.4min, which was almost two seconds quicker than the time Nathan Purdon-trained Be My Star recorded in the other qualifier on the Bendigo card.

And after partnering her in seven of 10 starts so far, Rodney Petroff will take the drive for Saturday’s $50,000 feature.

Petroff has been instrumental behind the scenes with Atego Dawn and Rowley was quick to thank the 40-year-old trainer-driver on Trots Talk during the week.

“Most days I go down to the Lancefield trotting track and jog her there and then fast work her once a week,” Rowley said.

“On Saturdays I go to Rod Petroff’s and he gets one of his horses out and I follow them around his track.

“He’s helped me with setting up the gear on her, the bridle, which blinkers to put on and we’ve changed the bit in her mouth. He’s been a great help, even just suggesting things.”

Petroff’s only Group 1 win in the sulky came in the 2020 Vicbred Super Series 3YO Trotting Colts and Geldings Final with Is That A Bid for Michael Hughes.

Rowley, who leases Atego Dawn and races her with his wife Joan and son Brent, said he expected the Kvintet Avenger filly to only get better with age.

“She’s probably the best horse I’ve ever had and Rodney has got a good opinion of her,” he said.

“She’s not meant to go until she’s four or five years old, so she’ll only improve.”

The Home Grown Classic Final for the three-year-old trotting colts and geldings is the other Group 1 on Saturday night’s Melton card, with Hes A Hammer (David Aiken) and Ee Be Mac (Maree Campbell) the two heat winners from Bendigo on March 9.

LISTEN TO NEIL ROWLEY ON TROTS TALK BELOW: