Exciting pacer Eureka put the finishing touches to Kate Gath’s magical return to Tabcorp Park Melton on Saturday night.
Fresh from a driving-related suspension, Gath claimed the last leg of a winning treble with the former New Zealander, who scored a dominant victory in the VHRC Pace (1720m, NR 64-69).
The son of Washington VC had to race in the death seat for much of the journey, but it proved no barrier as he let down at the top of the straight and charged clear to win comfortably in a mile rate of 1:55.3.
It was the four-year-old’s fourth win from five appearances in Australia, with the only blemish coming when he galloped and broke gear at Cranbourne in late March.
“His last start at Ballarat and his trial since then, he has just given me a really good feel,” Gath told SEN1116’s Talking Trots on Track.
“I’ve just come back and gone to (trainer/husband) Andy (Gath) ‘I really like this horse’. And I don’t say that about that many.
“He just seems to be getting better and better and I’m really not surprised that he did what he did (Saturday night) on the feel he has given me on the last couple of starts.”
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Gath scored earlier wins with Emma Stewart’s Two Times Bettor and Arden Voyager, which like Eureka is trained by her husband Andy.
The reappearance of Stewart’s superstar pacer Poster Boy was billed as a major highlight of Saturday night’s card and he didn’t disappoint.
Injury and illness had kept the multiple Group 1 winner sidelined for close to a year before the previous weekend’s victory at Melton and he backed up seven days later with another scintillating performance.
Racing in the TAB Long May We Play Pace (2240m, NR 90-120), Poster Boy was allowed to roll to the front by driver Greg Sugars and with minimal pressure, he covered his last 800m in 54.8sec to clock a mile rate of 1:55.7.
“As you saw, he straightened up and did that all himself. To snap off a sub-27 quarter without even being asked for it – it takes a real good horse to do that,” Sugars said.
The win was the last of three on the night for the Myrniong-based Sugars, who also scored with Im No Outlaw and Cocosfella for trainer/wife Jess Tubbs.
Sugars’ sister Kylie was another to leave Melton with a big smile on her face after the performance of Sammy Showdown in the Alderbaran Park Trot (2240m, NR 75-120).
The horse beat a quality field of squaregaiters to register his first success since his six-race streak ended in early February.
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FIRST-STARTER FORM
A quick guide to today’s trots debutants
Tabcorp Park Melton
Race 1: DNR Logistics 2YO Trotters Handicap
Bromwich (2YO gelding by Majestic Son out of Icantremember, trainer/driver Geoff Webster): Out of an unraced mare whose most proliffic foal was 2006-bred Mister Castleton ($129,720). She was added to Craig Rail’s Trial File blackbook after the “talented gelding … was able to find the front at the 800m. He continued to build on his lead and scored impressively”. Click here for the full report and replay.
Aldebaran Dianna (2YO Father Patrick filly out of Aldebaran Dianna, trainer Geoff Webster/driver Ryan Duffy): Another who has impressed on the trials circuit, running second on February 25 and then winning at Melton on April 20. Craig Rail noted she “trailed the leader in the early stages, gained the lead at the 700m and continued to roll along in the final circuit to win nicely”.
Madge Egan (2YO filly by Skyvalley out of Amaori Spur, trainer/driver Anne-Maree Conroy): Third in her only trial at Ballarat on April 7, when she run past stablemate Majestic Saint but was some 120 metres off winning, five-year-old Bacardi Chardy.
Majestic Saint (2YO filly by Majestic Son out of Heart Of Glass, trainer Anne-Maree Conroy, driver Glenn Conroy): A half-sister to Parallel Lines ($46,883), her fourth placing behind Madge Egan was her only trial.
Race 3: Aldebaran Park Trot
Overandout (3YO gelding by Majestic Son out of Coruscating, trainer Jess Tubbs/driver Greg Sugars): The first to race out of the three-time winning mare, trialed three times since April 14 for two fourths and a second. In his most recent trial Craig Rail noted “appeared to be struggling at the 800m and raced very roughly over the final stages”.
Terang
Race 4: Goodtime Lodge Trot
Kaylasister (4YO mare by Majestic Son out of Decisive Dash, trainer/driver Paddy Meade): The mare’s foaled one winner, Herecomes Kayla ($20,348). Kaylasister’s three trials, all at Terang, have produced a third placing and two fourths.
