Tim O'Connor picks his favourite bits from the harness racing week that was and the one ahead...

THE HERO

Ted Jepsen, the veteran hobby trainer from Lockington, enjoyed success as a 90-year-old with Soho Playgirl at Bendigo on March 26.

Jepsen celebrated his 90th birthday in late 2024 and last week cheered home the daughter of Soho Tribeca to a strong victory for driver Laura Wilson.

A VFA footballer in his younger days, Jepsen has had some handy horses over the years including Epona Sunshine, Wenthestarzzzaline, Sudden Rush and Manwarra Sunshine.

Well done, Ted. Brilliant stuff.

HOW GOOD WAS...

Cool to see prominent harness trainer AJ Tindale experience a shock success with her first galloper on Saturday at Avoca.

Tindale, who trains pacers and trotters in partnership with husband Beau, prepared King Alla to a long-odds triumph in The Pyrenees Advocate Maiden Plate.

The result was a surprise to most punters, with the former Henry Dwyer-trained gelding returning huge dividends across betting providers, including $101 on the Sportsbet fixed odds.

CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS!

The Barry Bottams Mildura Pacing Cup Final is an intriguing event after Tuesday night’s heats.

The Sunraysia’s biggest prize goes up for the grabs on Friday night at 9.04pm, with Aaron Dunn’s first heat winner Dee Roe currently favourite at $3.80. He sits at the top of the Sportsbet market ahead of Jackson Painting’s Catchafire ($4), Matthew Craven’s Young Bluey ($4.40) and Shane Sanderson’s Catalpa Rescue ($4.80).

Winner of the second qualifier, Joe Got Rolled, is also in single figures in betting at $7 from the pole.

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR...

The Aussie assault on Cambridge will be exciting this Friday night, with Victorians having a major hand in one of the night’s big features.

Reigning Inter Dominion champion The Locomotive is favourite for the TAB Trot, with Kiwi local Oscar Bonavena on the second line of betting ahead of Vics Arcee Phoenix (Chris Svanosio), Im Ready Jet (Andy and Kate Gath) and Queen Elida (Brent Lilley and Chris Alford).

Aussie stars Don Hugo and Leap To Fame sit clear at the top of the market for the pacing feature, the Race by betcha.

The TAB Trot is scheduled for 5.49pm AEDT and the Race by betcha 6.52pm.

POP THIS IN YOUR DIARY

The Good Friday meeting at Stawell will take place on April 18.

The afternoon will feature the Pleasant Creek Plate, where horses compete twice on the same card via a heats-into-final format.

It is restricted to five-year-old and older pacers with no more than three lifetime wins, and which have not won a race in their last five starts.

ONE FOR THE BLACK BOOK

First Dance

There just has to be a win around the corner for Jess Tubbs’ mare, who has been super in all her recent outings since mid-February.

Last Saturday, she endured a tough run off the fence and only went down by a neck to Repelling in a race where first, third and fourth all settled along the pegs.

SOMETHING TO PONDER...

Had an interesting discussion recently with a club official, who was contemplating the idea of running heats-into-final events – where horses would compete twice on the one day - at regular meeting throughout the year.

Without pressing too deep, I wondered whether the theory could take a number of formats, including multiple heats on one card with top points-scorers moving into a final the following week at another track.

So much would need to be considered - most importantly, the safety the standardbred - but it might be enticing to some participants to have their horse compete for more money at a single meeting and a way to help get more races on the card.

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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.