Education to continue for Night School in Group 3 final

He might lack the race experience of some of his opponents but Kialla trainer/driver Stephen Boyington is hopeful Night School will prove up to class Saturday night.

The lightly raced four-year-old will step out in the Group 3 Country Clubs Championship Final at Tabcorp Park Melton, having booked a place by winning one of three regional heats.

Boyington told Trots Talk “we’re very happy to make it” and was hopeful his charge would give a good account under the bright lights of metropolitan racing.

“He’s a bit more immature than the other horses in it, but he did a good job in his heat so we’re happy to be there.”

Boyington was buoyed by how the son of Blissful Hall handled the step up in competition to take out his Ballarat qualifier last Thursday.

“His work at home had been very good, but it was still a step up in grade to what he has been racing and it will be another step up on the weekend as well.”  

Having had just the 19 starts to date, Night School has always shown Boyington that he has his share of ability, but his path hasn’t been easy, tackling high quality horses along the way.

“He’s ran some terrific races,” he said. “He ran third to Ladies In Red in his very first start as a two-year-old and third to Bondi Lockdown and Major Moth as a three-year-old at Bendigo, so he has run some terrific races but is still a big, immature baby at the moment. Hopefully he can keep improving.”

Saturday night’s race is wide open and with a number of winning chances according to the TAB market, with Night School a $4.60 second favourite behind only Belmont Royale ($3.70).

Boyington is keeping an open mind on how things will play out during the early stages.

“I think Too The Max should find the front, he is very quick off the arm,” he said.

“I’ll just probably come out and see where I land. I’m good off the arm but he probably doesn’t need to burn too hard early. We’ll just see how it unfolds.”

The $30,000 Group 3 final headlines a nine-race program at Victorian trots headquarters on Saturday night, a card that also includes the Hygain Melton Trotters Free For All.

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