Trots Centre: Pete and Kez out to break Group 1 drought

Peter and Kerryn Manning know what Group 1 glory feels like, but it's been quite some time since the dynamic Great Western duo has combined for elite level success.

In fact, it’s been more than a decade.

The father-daughter trainer-driver team last joined forces to win a Group 1 with Leilani Lombo all the way back in 2010, with Kerryn steering the horse to victory in the $300,000 Australian Pacing Gold 2YO Fillies Final at Albion Park.

This weekend, the pair has a great chance to break the drought.

Kerryn will drive Plymouth Chubb, one of two runners from the Peter Manning stable in the Aldebaran Park Vicbred Platinum Home Grown Classic 2YO Trotting Colts and Geldings Final at Tabcorp Park Melton.

The son of Majestic Son has won his past three starts, including the only heat of the series at Maryborough when he beat all of the rivals he meets this Saturday night.

Kerryn said Plymouth Chubb had been great following his debut run on March 10, when he had excuses.

"He has shown some pretty nice form in his four runs," Manning said.

"His first start he probably had a bit of an excuse. That was the night we had an accident just before we got to Melton and hit a car.

"They vetted him and he seemed fine, but it wasn't the ideal scenario going into your first start. He went away good and just went out of his gear on the first turn and then that was the end of him that night. But he did feel good.

"Since then, he sort of hasn't put a foot wrong. He's still learning, but he's got the talent that's for sure..."

Plymouth Chubb is a half-brother to stablemate Dublin Chubb, who was a promising juvenile that finished fourth in the time-honoured Redwood Classic as a two-year-old, but has failed to win since late 2019.

Fellow stablemate Mangana Joe is in Saturday night's Group 1 and will be driven by Jason Ainsworth, who will be looking to better the horse's eighth placing from the heat when he galloped early in the race.

"Mangana Joe I think is going to win races eventually. He is just sort of working it all out, but he has shown enough on his few runs that he has got a bit of speed about him (and) that he shouldn't be far off a win in time," Kerryn said.

"Plymouth Chubb seems to have it over him a little bit at this stage, but there's not a hell of a lot between them. I went with the one with the form."

The Aldebaran Park Vicbred Platinum Home Grown Classic 2YO Trotting Fillies Final is the other Group 1 on the Melton card.

Geoff Webster-trained Aldebaran Misty won the first of the heats at Maryborough back on April 30, before Brad Angove's Ebonys Avenger took out the second. They look among the leading chances for the $50,000 feature.

Another highlight of the meeting is the return of Tornado Valley, who continues his search of the million-dollar prizemoney mark when he lines up in the DNR Logistics Vulcan Trotters Free For All.

If successful, the Andy Gath-trained star will become just the ninth Australasian-bred squaregaiter to reach the milestone.

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