Muckleford breeder-owner Graham Old is hoping talented trotting mare Lady Adelia can give him his first Group 1 success in a more than 50-year involvement in the sport when she lines up in the $100,000 Vicbred Super Series final at Melton on September 16.

A member of Chris Svanosio’s Romsey stable, the daughter of Creatine led throughout in a heat of the Haras des Trotteurs’ sponsored series at Bendigo on Thursday night.

It was her seventh win from 13 starts this year and his ninth lifetime success.

Lady Adelia didn’t race as a two-year-old and won only twice from 11 starts at three.

“She’s just kept improving as she’s got older,” Graham said.

However, Old is philosophical about Lady Adelia’s chances in the Group 1 Final.

“She’ll need a good draw and a bit of luck to be a chance,” he said.

Old and his son Darren, nephews Frank and Peter Old and son-in-law Steve Hall bought Lady Adelia’s dam, Aldebaran Shelly (by Skyvalley) as a yearling for $19,000 from Duncan McPherson’s Aldebaran Park.

“Aldebaran Shelly won three races from only a few starts and showed a lot of promise. Unfortunately, she went sore and we decided to breed from her,” Graham said.

Lady Adelia is her first issue.

“Her second foal a Majestic Son two-year-old filly is being trained by Ryan Hryhorec in Adelaide and she has a Father Patrick yearling with Chris. She foaled a filly by Majestic Son three days ago,” he said.

Old, 76, the former country sales manager for Castlemaine Bacon and Bertocchi, good supporters of country trotting clubs, first became involved with the sport racing a few horses with his late brother Kevin.

“We only had pacers to start with. Some of the best we raced were Cushla, Gyressa, Scarlet Miss and Rosewood Beau and more recently, Reactor Now,” he said.

“I really love the square-gaiters. The first trotter I ever owned was Jungle King, who was selected for me by Noel Taylor. He won 13 races including a couple at Moonee Valley.”

Other smart trotters owned by the family down through the years have been the Group 3 winner Sunana Asset, Beau Salute and the brothers Galleon’s Son and Son Of Galleon.

Two of last night’s heat winners were out of Skyvalley mares, the other being Just A Bit Touchy (by Father Patrick), while Aroha Koe (by Love You), one of two winners bred by Yabby Dam Farms, is from the 2004 Inter Dominion trotting champion Sumthingaboutmaori.

Have Victorian breeding news for The Forum? Email whartonp@bigpond.net.au

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.