It was a day to remember for Aaron Dunn. Not only did he go back-to-back from last year to this year in the Matthews Petroleum Hamilton Pacing Cup, he also trained the quinella, with Forty Love taking the honours and last year’s winner Dee Roe finishing second, driven by Jackie Barker.
Forty Love worked forward at the start to find the front in the 2660-metre event and led throughout, fighting off a late challenge from stablemate Dee Roe, with the pair racing away to put a margin on the rest of the field. Third place went to Jilliby Nitro, driven by Lochie Cook, who finished 18 metres behind.
“I had a glance behind me and saw it was between us two,” Dunn said.
“Jackie was travelling better than me, but I knew he would keep slogging away.”
Dunn praised the impact the Hamilton Cup has had on his career.
“I never won a true country cup until last year in Victoria,” Dunn stated to on-track MC Cody Winnell.
“To think, if I’d said 10 years ago that I would have the two favourites run first and second in the Cup here at Hamilton, I would nearly say that’s not right. But it’s come to be the case, and I am very proud of the horses, and thankful for all the workers and people around me.”
Earlier in the day, Meadow Valley Star and Jordan Leedham sustained a strong run to take out the Alexandra House Sports Club Hamilton Trotters Cup first-up for new trainer Matthew Horsnell.
Over the 2660-metre trip, the seven-year-old gelding stepped well from his 10-metre handicap to settle in the one-one position in the seven-horse field.
After travelling strongly throughout, he made his move at the 400-metre mark and produced a powerful finish to claim victory.
“Not a bad catch drive to pick up on a day like today,” Leedham said to Winnell.
“Big credit goes to Matty (Horsnell). He does a terrific job and had the horse cherry ripe. My job was pretty easy, just to point him in the right direction.”
Meadow Valley Star was first-up since joining Horsnell’s stable in December, and Leedham was confident throughout the run.
“He was doing it so easy, and once I came outside of them he let down beautifully and was too good for them,” Leedham said.
