In-form reinsman Mark Pitt continues to make inroads on James Herbertson’s lead in the Victorian Metropolitan Drivers’ Premiership after landing a treble at Melton on Saturday night.
Pitt has steered home 11 winners at the last three meetings in which he has driven at headquarters, making the most of Herbertson’s absence fulfilling engagements at Albion Park during the Inter Dominion series.
The Emma Stewart-trained Fairplay remains unbeaten in two starts back from a long spell after he outclassed the opposition in the Hertz Melton Plate.
Fairplay ($1.50 fav) sat parked for most of the race before surging clear with 400 metres to travel and held a comfortable 10-metre margin on the line.
Pitt said he was able to dictate the terms of the race from the death seat.
“The lead time was only slow so I thought that we would get up outside them and control the tempo and he was brilliant tonight, even better than his first-up run,” Pitt said.
“It’s all up to his manners now – it will take him a long way if his manners are good, but if they’re bad, he is still going to win his share of races.”
Stewart-prepared mare The Art Of Success continued her picket fence form line by chalking up a seventh-consecutive win after leading all the way in the Renown Silverware Pace.
Sent out the $1.20 favourite, The Art Of Success ran her rivals off their legs to score from Hoorah Philtra and Le Belle Bijoux in a mile rate of 1:53.6.
“She probably had to gas up more than we expected tonight, but she really came back to me and backed off, and when it comes time to go, she goes. It seems like she is going to be a hard horse to get past,” Pitt said.
Pitt completed his treble on the Courtney Slater-trained three-year-old Famous Crimes, who broke his maiden status in the Dynamic Print Group Pace.
The win also capped off a memorable night for Slater, who trains talented three-year-old Luvtobeuptome, who took out the Queensland Derby Consolation at Albion Park earlier in the evening.
Pitt now sits in equal second place on the Victorian Metropolitan Drivers’ Premiership with Jason Lee on 20 wins, while Herbertson heads the table on 27 wins.
The Stewart-trained Sir Jimmy returned to the racetrack in style, leading all the way in the Hyland Racing Colours Free For All.
Having his first start since finishing third in the Vicbred Super Series (4YO Geldings and Entires) Final in November, Sir Jimmy ($3.50) held off Perun by a short half head with the $1.90 favourite Hes From Heaven 16 metres away third.
The winner reeled off a slick 53.8 last 800 metres, making it a tough task for the runners back in the field to feature in the finish.
Driver Jodi Quinlan conceded she was able to get away with race-winning sectionals.
“I got it nice early with a nice first quarter, making it mathematically impossible for the others,” Quinlan said.
Kate Gath put a recent back ailment behind her with a winning double on Paris Kay and Howdy Mate, who both completed back-to-back wins in their respective races.
Gath couldn’t have scripted the race better on the three-year-old Howdy Mate, who enjoyed the run of the race in the one-out, one-back trail in the Aldebaran Park Trot.
When Gath pulled Howdy Mate ($5.50) out to stake his claim around the home turn, the son of Elite Stride unleashed a strong finale to score running away by two metres from Freight Shaker and Keayang Kurki.
Gath acknowledged Howdy Mate’s effort against the older horses.
“It’s never easy taking on the older horses because they’re so seasoned, but the run turned out just right for us which made it possible for us to get home over the top of them,” Gath said.
