Some of the bits and pieces that caught Tim O’Connor’s eye in the world of harness racing…
THE HERO
ALDEBARAN ZEUS
What a marvel this horse has been, and he performed well in his farewell to racing with a great runner-up placing to Im Bobby in Saturday night’s Aldebaran Park Trotters Handicap at Melton.
Zeus retires as a five-time Group 1 winner with 89 starts, 23 victories and $599,018 in prizemoney.
His major highlights include a win over champion rival Just Believe in the 2023 Hammerhead Mile at Menangle, a brilliant victory in the Maori Mile at Bendigo earlier that year and success in the Australasian Trotting Championship at Melton in 2022.
Well done, Zeus. What a career. It will be great to see what you can achieve at stud.
For more information or to book Aldebaran Zeus, click here.
HOW GOOD WAS…
ANDREA AND LEON’S WIN
It was great to see some hard-working friends of the industry enjoy some success at their home track early last week.
Charlton Harness Racing Club president Andrea O’Gorman bred and owns five-year-old mare Fair Chance, who won the final event for her partner and trainer Leon Fanning on Monday afternoon.
Luke Dunne steered the pacer to her fourth victory, with the result providing Fanning with the 16th training triumph of his career.
FROM THE RACING OFFICE…
MILDURA TROTS
There’s been no luck so far in getting a race for trotters off the ground in the Sunraysia, with the last two attempts falling over due to a lack of nominations.
However, the racing office at HRV is keen to persist with the concept.
Another event will be offered for NR up to 55 squaregaiters at Mildura on Friday, August 29.
The last race run for squaregaiters at Mildura was the trotters’ cup in April 2024, which was won by the Brent Lilley-trained Kyvalley Heist.
ONE FOR THE BLACK BOOK…
A TRUE STORY
I reckon David Harris has his stable in good form at the moment, and I think his former New Zealand-based trotter will be winning soon.
A True Story ran a nice third to Hoppy in a race at Bendigo during late July and then loomed up at Melton on August 2 before galloping at the corner.
On August 9, he chased home the highly-talented Lady Vici and was beaten less than 5m on the line.
Stick with him.
SOMETHING TO PONDER…
Great news last week with confirmation Leap To Fame is coming back to Melton for another shot at the one major Australian feature missing from his CV.
The Queensland megastar, who is now Australasia’s richest ever pacer with earnings over $4.6 million, will hunt his first success in one of our great races, the Victoria Cup.
Leap To Fame ran third in 2023 and was scratched on the eve of the race last year with illness, but trainer-driver Grant Dixon and owners Kevin and Kay Seymour will be hoping its third time lucky in a couple of months’ time.
Don’t let this opportunity pass you by. Mark down October 18 in your calendar and make sure you’re on track for what might be another iconic moment in a champion’s career.
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The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the author and may not be attributed to or represent policies of Harness Racing Victoria, which is the state authority and owner of thetrots.com.au.
