Aussie News - July 16

By Adam Hamilton

Kiwi-owned mare Amore Vita added to her already impressive CV with arguably the biggest win of her career in last night’s $150,000 Group 1 Garrards The Golden Girl (1660m) at Albion Park.

In a hotly contested feature, Amore Vita was strong and classy enough to sustain a three-wide run around the field from last without cover and still snatch victory in a blazing 1min50.5sec mile rate for 1660m.

It was an all Kiwi finish with Bob Butt’s Manhattan using the sprint lane from behind the leader to hit the front, but not quite fend-off Amore Vita.

It would’ve been an injustice had Amore Vita not won given the work she did.

Raced by Steve Dolan and the Estate of Grant Adamson, Amore Vita started her career in NZ and had a successful stint with Nathan Purdon in Victoria before moving to Stewart and Tonkin when Purdon returned to NZ.

It was her 15th win from just 31 starts with another 11 placings and she blasted past the half-million in earnings to $555,053.

The other top class former Kiwi mare, Braeview Kelly, didn’t have much luck back in fifth spot for Jack Trainor, who has been open about the challenges he’s had getting her primed with little niggles this campaign.

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The rise and rise for former Kiwi pacer Taipo continues for trainer-driver Brad Hewitt.

The six-year-old, who won seven races in NZ, posted his fourth and best win from just eight Aussie runs when he blazed around Albion Park last Friday.

Taipo, who had run second to Grand Circuit star Spirit Of St Louis at his two previous Menangle runs, pounced on the front from gate three at Albion Park and ran some very talented rivals ragged.

Despite running a 56.7sec first half, the son of American Ideal ripped home in 53.4 and 26.2sec to win by 17.3m over high-class Jason Grimson pair Major Meister and Majestic Cruiser. His 1min50.2sec mile rate for 1660m was just one second outside the track record.

Taipo’s sparkling win must surely push his case for a spot in next Saturday night’s $400,000 Group 1 Blacks A Fake (2680m) at Albion Park.

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What an old marvel Cash N Flow continues to be.

The 10-year-old posted his 42nd win, and a record 28th victory at Menangle, when he easily won the free-for-all in a 1min50.6sec mile last night.

Team McCarthy has done a superb job with the once injury-plagued pacer and he’s now banked almost $700,000.

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Speedy former Kiwi mare Sugarinspice used that speed early and late to win the Group 3 Prydes Easifeed Trotters’ Sprint at Albion Park last night.

Trained by Chantal Turpin and driven by Pete McMullen, the eight-year-old led from the pole and ripped home in 56.3 and 28sec flat for a slick 1min55.6sec mile rate for 1660m.

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Tims A Trooper has and always will live in Leap To Fame’s shadow.

He’s the same age, in the same stable and runs in lots of the same races.

The son of Tintin In America pressed his case for a spot in next week’s $400,000 Group 1 Blacks A Fake with a slick win in a support race at Albion Park last night.

The four-year-old sat three pegs and ripped home himself in a 53.9sec last half to rundown leader Big Wheels in a slick 1min50.5sec mile rate for 1660m.

Despite his second-string status, Tims A Trooper has won 11 races, been placed 19 times and banked almost $350,000.

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Two young Kiwis continued their terrific Victorian strike rate at Melton last Friday night.

Northern Derby runner-up Son Of Mac and his trainer-driver Kyle Marshall won easily again. It was the three-year-old’s third win from as many Aussie runs as he prepares for the Victoria Derby in October.

The 29-year-old Marshall boasts a remarkable seven wins, a second and two thirds from just 10 drives since relocating to Cranbourne to train and drive.

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Watching gifted Victorian pacer Bettor Isolate in full flight is something special.

There’s not many quicker pacers for sheer speed over 300m and he showed that coming from a tricky spot in traffic to snatch a last-stride win in last night’s Popular Alm Sprint (1690m) at Kilmore.

Just when it seemed classy former Kiwi pacer Tango Tara was going to score a big win after sitting parked, Glen Craven found room back on the inside and Bettor Isolate grew wins to score by a half-head in a 1min53.2sec mile rate.

There’s no doubt Bettor Isolate has the potential to win a really nice race at some stage with that speed of his.

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Exciting Queensland pacer Speak The Truth booked his spot in the world’s richest harness race, the $2.1mil TAB Eureka, with a terrific win in last night’s inaugural $231,000 The Hayden (2138m) at Albion Park.

The slot race was created by Racing Queensland with the express purpose of supporting Queensland pacers and also with the bonus the winner would fill RQ’s slot in the TAB Eureka at Menangle on September 2.

“He deserved that,” trainer Shannon Price said. “We felt he came through last week (seventh to Leap To Fame in the Rising Sun) well and he obviously did.”

Speak The Truth settled last, driver Adam Sanderson made a midrace move to sit parked and just when it seemed leader Captain Shuffles was doing enough, Speak The Truth dug too deep.

He’s raced just 17 times for 11 wins, three seconds and three thirds.

And he gives Queensland its second confirmed TAB Eureka runner with Leap To Fame (for the Kevin and Kay Seymour slot) being the other.

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Talented former Kiwi gelding Steal The Show kicked-off what shapes a big campaign with an easy Gloucester Park win last Friday night.

Young gun Deni Roberts took the Team Bond-trained pacer to the front from the pole and was always in control, winning the 2536m free-for-all by 2.5m over the consistent The Mustang.

Steal The Show boasts five wins from just seven starts since being plucked from NZ to join the strong Team Bond at the start of the year.

Former Aussie rules star and passionate harness breeder Bryan Cousins continued his recent hot streak when Carabao led throughout to win the feature, the Botra Cup, at Gloucester Park.