Chris Alford kicked off the weekend as Chris Alford does – breaking records – and we saw the emergence of an exciting trotter at Headquarters on Saturday night.
Let’s get across the latest trots news with thetrots.com.au Catch-Up.
WA – Prevailer of Gloucester does it again
ID18 and NZ Cup contender Chicago Bull is best in the west right now.
Following another walk in the Park on Friday night – the five-year-old’s 29th win at Gloucester – all the talk is of Chicago Bull’s spring and summer flings, with a New Zealand Cup jaunt front and centre of the itinerary.
From there the logical goal would be the ID18 in Victoria from December 1, and opportunity knocks this year with several big guns already out of the race due to injury, retirement or sale abroad.
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The Chicago Bull show rolls on but Hall sounds a note of caution. https://t.co/IMHYFeAGr4 @OfficialRWWA @santassnippets @GloucesterPark
Scott Hamilton Media pic.twitter.com/vEUX9Apli8
— RWWA Harness (@RWWA_Harness) July 29, 2018
Vic – Stress definitely a Factor
A new Factor has emerged as a serious player in Sunday’s Seelite Windows and Doors Victoria Trotters Derby.
Brent Lilley-trained Stress Factor asserted his authority over a handy field of three-year-olds in Saturday night’s SBG Accountants Trot at Tabcorp Park Melton.
The impeccably bred gelding – by Majestic Son out of a Sundon mare, Fear Factor – led for the bulk of the 2240m journey after taking up the running early for record-smashing reinsman Chris Alford. At the wire he had 2.3m on Majestic Player, whose run was also full of merit.
Stress Factor has recently transferred to the Lilley stable from New Zealand and will also be set for the TAB Breeders Crown series in coming weeks.
WATCH CHRIS ALFORD AND ALL THE WINNING DRIVERS IN ALL CLEAR:
Vic – Nikki so fine
The money came for Stawell-trained Hellovaway in Saturday night’s Group 3 Empire Stallions Vicbred Platinum Pace, but it was another Wimmera warrior that prevailed in Barry Dunn-trained Nikkibadwagon.
The Horsham heroine even did it the hard way, breezing for a 1:53.9 win in the 1720m sprint, notching her 11th career success and taking her stakes to almost $150k.
Vic – Voila! Group 2 win for Murphy
Dunnstown’s David Murphy produced Cams Fool filly Valla Reine to win Saturday night’s Group 2 Australian Pacing Gold Melbourne Autumn Sale Final at Tabcorp Park Melton.
The daughter of Varney Regina sold for $5,500 at the above mentioned sale last year, so connections are in the profit zone to the tune of 568% minus training costs – given the two-year-old has already picked up $31,270 in stakemoney to date.
Congratulations to the connections of VALLA REINE who took out the Group 2 Australian Pacing Gold Melbourne Autumn Sale Final at @Tabcorp_Park tonight! #APG pic.twitter.com/mfD2dhqx2o
— APG Ltd (@AustPacingGold) July 28, 2018
Vic – Not such a Tough Call in hindsight?
Followers of our own form guru Blake Redden will be cashed up courtesy of Tough Call winning the TAB Multiplier Melton Pace Final on Saturday night at Headquarters.
Redden has been an advocate of Tough Call in recent times, the Michael Cole-trained six-year-old whose resume now boasts a Group 3 gong.
Piloted by champion driver Kerryn Manning, Tough Call led from three and paid handsomely – over $26 on the tote – to score by 1.6m over $1.40 pop Jilliby Bandit.
The win took Tough Call’s season earnings in excess of $55k.
While on the subject of Manning, she finished with a winning double after her impressive five-year-old Art Major mare Our Golden Goddess made it back-to-back successes in town with an all-the-way win in the Garrards Horse and Hound Pace.
Manning also had two seconds on the card with Danman in the first and Illcryifhewinds in the last.
Oh my days Tough Call
— Blake Redden (@BlakeRedden) July 28, 2018
Vic – Margaret Ruth takes Laurels
Anne-Maree Conroy and her ultra-smart trotting mare Margaret Ruth took out Saturday night’s Allied Express Lightfoot Laurels at Tabcorp Park Melton.
A $2.10 favourite with punters, the bonny four-year-old had almost 2m on runner-up Desert Flyer at the completion of the 2240m Group 3 from the standing start – rating 2:01.4.
Margaret Ruth has earned connections over $116,000 from 35 starts to date and is an eight-time winner from 15 starts this season alone.
Watching Margaret Ruth win the Lightfoot Laurels tonight at home with my Grandma, the very proud owner of this mare, cheering her on. Simply one of the best moments! #trotters #proud #family #missyougrandad pic.twitter.com/ah5ZTeqPnm
— Lyndal Conroy (@lyndal_conroy) July 28, 2018
SA – Border hoppers enjoy golden Globe night
The Victorians dominated Saturday night’s UBET Southern Cross Finals at Globe Derby, winning three of the four trophies on offer at the annual SA futurity carnival.
That’s Perfect for Emma Stewart and Sidney Van Den Brande, Saphirique for Brett Bunfield and Dani Hill, and Animal for Nathan Jack winning their finals by convincing margins.
Jack walked away with a winning double, also taking out the UBET 2YO Colts and Geldings’ Southern Cross Consolation with Catch A Moment by almost 30m.
Sidney and Thats Perfect take out the Group 2 $50,000 @UBET 3YO Colts & Geldings Southern Cross Series Final at Globe Derby Park! pic.twitter.com/lzFZQxOEty
— TonkinStewartRacing (@TonkinStewart) July 28, 2018
NSW – Ya Hu serious win in Group 3
Shane and Lauren Tritton won Saturday night’s Menangle Group 3 feature, the Campbelltown Catholic Club Cup, courtesy of four-year-old gelding Gotta Go Ya Hu.
Earlier on the card, Tritton-trained fast-class star Yayas Hot Spot had to settle for second as a $2.10 favourite behind ex-Taswegian Pachacuti, who prevailed by 1.5m for an even bigger Jim team – the double Jim partnership of Rattray and Douglas.
Pachacuti was a $27.40 outsider and has now won 34 races.
Meanwhile, Robbie Morris took driving honours at Menangle with a hat-trick courtesy of Cherry Stride in the fifth, and Dance For Glory and Fat Prophet in Races seven and eight.
Group 3 Campbelltown Catholic Club Cup – GOTTA GO YA HU NZ / @Tritton_Team #Trots pic.twitter.com/l9voTB3hVA
— Ashlea Brennan (@ashbrennanphoto) July 28, 2018
Qld – McCarthy fires for treble
Miss Graceland produced a 1:54.0 mile rate to win the Changeover @ Burwood Stud Pace at Albion Park on Saturday night, the former Victorian mare now in the care of Craig Cross and driven by Luke McCarthy.
Victorian trainer Ross Pike also combined with superstar reinsman McCarthy in the Albion Park opener for success with three-year-old Code Bailey, and when Ted West won the Pryde’s EasiFeed Pace (Race 6) McCarthy had a treble.
Miss Graceland bounces straight back to the winners circle winning race 3 @AlbionParkHRC with @lukeamccarthy for trainer Craig Cross @CobbittyEquine pic.twitter.com/nf2jgutRju
— Dan Costello (@DanRacingWrap) July 28, 2018
Vic – Yet another record for Alford
Many thought it would never be done, but Chris Alford has a knack for making the impossible possible.
On Friday night at Ballarat Alford drove his 400th winner this season, becoming the first driver ever to achieve that mark.
The 400th winner was With Gusto for trainer Ross Graham in the Visit Ballarat Members Claiming Pace at $5.30 and the club spoke to ‘The Puppet’ afterwards.
CHRIS ALFORD 400th milestone: https://t.co/eYmwa7ZDC3 via @YouTube
— BDTC (@Bdtc150) July 28, 2018
NSW – No favourite domination in Bathurst finals
Favourite punters didn’t make their million at Sunday’s Group 3 Breeders Challenge Regional finals at Bathurst, with just one popular elect prevailing out of six.
Million Dollar Gem for trainer Brett Woodhouse and driver John O’Shea was the sole favourite to salute, albeit narrowly – by a head – over second-favourite Make Mine Heaven in the Lincoln Royal 4YO Mares Regional Final.
Taylors Mill won the Art Major 2YO Fillies final for Bernie Hewitt, Major Roll took out the Betterthancheddar 2YO Colts and Geldings’ decider, Art Series delivered in the Shadow Play 3YO Fillies final for Steve and Amanda Turnbull, Paul Fitzpatrick and Sean Grayling combined with Lexus With A View to win the Auckland Reactor 3YO Colts and Geldings’ final, and Geldof doesn’t mind Sundays – winning the Sunshine Beach 4YO boys’ final for Ellen Bartley and Blake Jones.
Group 3 Lincoln Royal NSW Breeders Challenge 4YO Mares Regional Final – MILLION DOLLAR GEM / Brett Woodhouse & John O’Shea #Trots pic.twitter.com/gwhNKhjtwL
— Ashlea Brennan (@ashbrennanphoto) July 29, 2018
