Peter Manning is winning the race against time with his comeback trotter Plymouth Chubb, who produced the feel-good story and biggest upset during the opening round of Inter Dominion Trotting Championship heats at Albion Park on Friday night.
Having his third start back from an injury-enforced lay-off, Plymouth Chubb gave fellow Victorian and $1.10 favorite Queen Elida several lengths at the top of the home straight before unwinding a withering finale to score running away by four metres.
Manning admitted he was concerned whether he would be able to adequately prepare the four-year-old for a tilt at the series.
“My main worry was having enough time to get him trim enough after having four months off in the paddock,” Manning said.
Manning was buoyed by Plymouth Chubb’s body of work on the training track prior to embarking on the two-day float trip to Brisbane.
“His last work at home before leaving was his best ever, so I knew he was ready,” he said.
“He is still pretty fat but that’s him – he should get better throughout the series.”
Leading NSW reinsman Cameron Hart deputised for champion reinswoman Kerryn Manning, who is recovering from a fractured wrist.
“Her latest CT scan is being sent to the surgeon on Monday. It’s still a bit sore, but if she is right, she can fly up to drive him in the final,” Manning said.
Victorian-trained trotters also provided the quinella in heat one when the Chris Lang and Sonia Mahar-prepared Ollivici reeled in leader Mufasa Metro in the shadows of the post.
“We kept him fresh going into the series and Chris said he felt really sharp tonight, so we are rapt,” Mahar said.
Mahar conceded Ollivici’s task was made easier by not meeting the top two seeds.
“It helped that we didn’t come up against Just Believe or Queen Elida in the first round,” she said.
“It’s the first time the horse has been away and he will appreciate the longer heats later in the series.”
Within the space of half an hour, Just Believe placed a stranglehold on the series following an effortless win in heat three.
Beaten for early speed by Sir Fahrenheit, Greg Sugars pulled out on Just Believe to assume control and the result was never in doubt thereafter.
After the race, bookmakers installed Just Believe as the $1.60 favorite for the final while Queen Elida eased out to $5.
The Jess Tubbs-trained Better Eclipse flew the flag for the Victorians and served notice he will be one of the key players in the pacing series with an authoritative win in the second heat.
Sugars took Better Eclipse off the gate at the start and allowed the son of Betterthancheddar time to balance up before working around to sit parked outside leader Captain Shuffles with a lap to travel.
Better Eclipse ($2.15 fav) levelled up around the home turn and gradually forged clear in the straight, accounting for local pacer Cassie Washington and Captain Shuffles in a mile rate of 1:51.5.
The five-year-old is now on the third line of betting for the final at $7.50 behind other heat winners Leap To Fame ($1.80 fav) and Swayzee ($3.80).
The Michael Stanley-trained Rock N Roll Doo has eased out to $12 for the decider after finishing seventh behind Future Assured in the first qualifier.
