The Victorian metropolitan drivers’ premiership all hinged on the final race of the season at Cranbourne on Saturday night.
Heading into the meeting, Mark Pitt held a two-win lead over the state’s premier reinsman James Herbertson.
While Herbertson had drives in four metropolitan-class races on the night, Pitt was monitoring proceedings from the couch at his home in Stanhope.
Herbertson made things interesting when he steered Illawong Larajay to victory with a “blueprint Herbie drive” in the Decron Trot.
Herbertson had a chance to come off three back along the pegs in the back straight, however he elected to chance his arm along the inside around the relatively compact Cranbourne home turn.
As is often the case, Herbertson pulled the right rein as Illawong Larajay ($4) was able to ease into the clear on straightening before producing a stout finale to score by two metres from the $3.40 favorite Hephaestus Phoenix.
A tie for the title appeared a realistic scenario when the Herberston-driven Aldebaran Acrux was travelling sweetly behind the leader and stablemate Aroha Koe inside the last lap of the Aldebaran Park Trotters Free For All.
One of four Chris Svanosio-trained runners in the race, Aldebaran Acrux galloped her way out of contention with 600 metres to travel, leaving Aroha Koe to stave off stablemate and $1.65 favorite Arcee Phoenix by three metres.
Pitt concedes he was on good terms with the “racing gods” after Aldebaran Acrux broke stride at a crucial stage of the race.
“That can happen with trotters and Herbie’s horse would have gone close to winning if it didn’t gallop. As it is, she still ran pretty well after she got down,” Pitt said.
Pitt also acknowledged Herbertson would have secured the premiership on countback.
“He has driven more placegetters than I have – he’s probably had around 150 more drives than me,” he said.
The 30-year-old Pitt cited his role as the stable driver for the Emma Stewart stable played a key role in securing his second metropolitan drivers’ premiership.
“Emma and Clayton (Tonkin) have been my biggest supporters,” he said.
Pitt said he had enjoyed a couple of easy days over the Christmas period and has no immediate plans for a celebratory holiday.
“No, I’m pretty well back into it,” he said.
“There are the two-year-olds that will be ready to race early in the new year and the big races are just around the corner.”
