Some of the bits and pieces that caught Tim O’Connor’s eye in the world of harness racing…
THE HERO…
BAY OF BISCAY
He’s always shaped as a really nice prospect, so it’s great to see this bloke really get his time in the sun.
Bay Of Biscay was runner-up in two Derby features and fourth in another as a three-year-old, but has really emerged from the shadows at age four.
He won the Group 1 Chariots of Fire early in the year and added the world’s richest harness race – the TAB Eureka – to his resume last weekend following a runner-up placing in 2024.
The son of Somebeachsomewhere is enjoyed by a large group of enthusiastic owners and is trained masterfully by Emma Stewart, who has now won two of the three runnings of the Eureka.
Let’s see if he’s up to his next challenge… Leap To Fame in the Victoria Cup on October 18!
DID YOU SEE…
BULL’S BLOWOUT WIN
Glenn Bull is having a great little run as trainer-driver at the moment, and it continued with an incredible longshot victory at Maryborough on Monday.
Favouritehighlight emerged from the pack and sprinted clear in the home straight to salute at $151 on the fixed odds.
The Derrinal-based Bull has trained 14 winners since July 1 and looks set to better his best season of 35 triumphs with 30 so far in 2025.
Watch Favouritehighlight’s replay here.
DROUGHT-BREAKER…
THE WAIT’S OVER FOR DARYL
It was great to see Daryl Prosser return to the winner’s circle as a trainer, more than seven years after his last success.
Prosser prepared Ataboy Charlie to win the Vale Les Chapman Forever In Trotting Trotters Handicap on Monday at Maryborough, with Michael Bellman steering the five-year-old to win from the 10m handicap.
Prosser’s previous victory as a trainer was way back on January 26, 2018 when Unique Power scored in a race at Stawell.
Watch the replay here.
JACKPOT CASH…
MORE FOR THE FIRST 4
A $10,000 jackpot has been added to the First 4 pool for the opening event on Saturday night at Melton, the VHRC Caduceus Classic.
The TAB is tipping a pot of $50,000.
ONE FOR THE BLACK BOOK…
LITTLE MISS MORGAN
She was well beaten in third on debut at Bendigo on Wednesday night, but I thought it was very encouraging performance by Juanita Breen’s three-year-old trotter.
Little Miss Morgan galloped shortly after the start, and while losing all winning hope, made up a stack of ground to finish third with the best last half of 59.09sec.
I don’t think the maiden will take long to get out of the way.
SOMETHING TO PONDER…
Some great news this week with confirmation that the mega Victoria Cup card at Melton will be shown on free-to-air TV through a partnership with 7two.
So, if you can’t make it to the track to see Leap To Fame chase one of the few major features missing from his CV, make sure you set aside the night and enjoy the wall-to-wall coverage from home.
For all the details, click here.
