Aussie News : May 10

The old marvel is back at it again.

The one-time “King” of Menangle, Cash N Flow, returned from a break to post his 22nd win at Sydney’s home of harness. That’s from just 39 starts.

The eight-year-old’s Group 1 days may be behind him, but Cash N Flow’s gate speed and love of Menangle still makes him a fantastic money-spinner for connections, including HRNZ CEO Gary Woodham.

Cash N Flow’s now banked $574,201 from 72 starts with 34 wins and 13 placings.

Luke McCarthy balanced him up early before surging around to take the lead from Thunder Dance, dictating terms through the middle and dashing home in 26.5sec for a 1min51.3sec mile.

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Cash N Flow's was the middle pin of a thumping five wins for Luke McCarthy at Menangle.

The biggest of them came when he teamed with former Kiwi and now Victorian-based trainer Brent Lilley to win the Group 2 NSW Trotters’ Derby with the Breckon Farms-bred Kyvalley Hotspur.

The colt worked his way to the front and absolutely bolted in by 14m over last week’s NSW Trotting Oaks winner Aldebaran Ursula in a slick 1min58.6sec mile rate for 2300m.

McCarthy’s others wins came with Kingmaker, La Bella Vita and Mister Catch.

Former Kiwi gelding Kingmaker is loving life in Sydney.

The son of Mach Three cruised to his fifth win from as many Aussie runs for Team McCarthy when he worked to the front and clocked a 1min55.7sec mile rate for 2300m last night.

Stablemate La Bella Vista added to her fantastic record since crossing the ditch with a slick 1min52.7sec mile win at Menangle on the same card.

The Changeover mare has raced eight times for Team McCarthy for six wins, a second and a third.

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Champion trotter Tornado Valley is creeping towards rather than bursting through the millionaire club.

For the third consecutive start, when victory would’ve taken the nine-year-old past $1 million in earnings, Tornado Valley fell short.

This time he was a tad disappointing by his lofty standards when a well-held third after sitting one-one behind leader and winner Sparkling Success in the Group 3 Vulcan Trot at Melton.

The $2400 third prize took his career earnings to $996,797.

But all credit to the winner, Sparkling Success, a star himself before a serious injury a couple of years ago, who led throughout for trainer John Meade and driver Jackie Barker in a 1min56.8sec mile rate for 1720m.

It’s been a story of persistence for Meade on the comeback trail with last night’s victory being only Sparkling Success’ second win from 19 starts since his long stint on the sidelines.

The nine-year-old’s won 19 of his 56 runs and $466,390.

His comeback is also a fantastic opportunity for the talented young Barker on a class horse in some big races.

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Memories of the great trotter Knight Pistol were revived with Plymouth Chubb’s monstrous Group 1 Vicbred Home Grown Final win at Melton last night (Saturday).

Amazingly, it was the first time in 11 years father and daughter Peter and Kerryn Manning have teamed-up to win a Group 1 race, the last time being with Leilani Lombo in the 2010 Australian Gold 2YO fillies’ final.

The Mannings shared a glorious ride with the mighty Knight Pistol through the mid-1990s, winning a stack of Aussie features and even a Group 1 race (the Harley Davidson Trot) in Norway.

So it was fitting they won their first Group 1 race as a combo with a trotter.

Plymouth Chubb’s win was remarkable and he looked every bit a potential trotting star of the future when he overcame losing 40-50m after an early gallop to win pulling clear by 17.7m.

The Majestic Son galloped and lost all hope on debut and has won all four starts since.

The fillies’ Home Grown final went to trainer-driver Geoff Webster with his exciting daughter of Skyvalley, Aldebaran Misty.

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The man with the pink wheels was at it again last Friday night.

The popular and bubbly Chris Voak teamed with trainer Barry Howlett to win the $50,000 Group 2 WASBA Breeders Stakes for fillies and mares with the emerging Star Of Diamonds.

Voak wanted the front on the daughter of Bettors Delight and eventually got there, but had to survive some serious midrace pressure (56.3sec split from the 1200-400m) before winning comfortably by 4.5m over former Victorian mare Heavens Showgirl.

It continued a breakthrough season for Star Of Diamonds, who has raced nine times this term for five wins, three seconds and a third and banked almost $100,000.

Talented young horseman Corey Peterson teamed with trainer Kim Prentice for an upset win in the free-for-all with Kiwi-bred son of Washington VC, Extradite.

In the other feature of the night, the $50,000 Australian Gold 4YO Consolation final, father and son Mike and Mark Reed upstaged the favourites with their $17 shot Caveman.

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The Rando clan is one of the real backbones of NSW trotting and richly deserved a semi-feature win with Empire Bay in the Bulli Trotters Cup.

Renowned for his big finish, Empire Bay camped off a solid pace for driver Chris Geary and put his rivals away in the blink of an eye halfway down the home straight to win by 6.2m.

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Former Kiwi Amanda Grieve is helping out the rampaging Anthony Butt/Sonya Smith barn and having some fun herself with recent Kiwi import Hezacrocwatcher.

The son of Hes Watching showed promise with two wins and three placings from six NZ starts and has thrived in Victoria with three wins from as many outings.

There was a lot to like about his win in the $30,000 Group 3 Nutrien Equine Country Clubs Championship final at Melton.

Driver Zac Phillips wanted the front early, but was posted wide, did plenty of work and eventually got to the top, but still ran home in 57.4 and 28.9sec to score by two metres in a 1min56sec mile rate for 2240m.