Aussie News : September 15

By Adam Hamilton

Defending IRT NZ Trotting Cup-winning trainer Jason Grimson is taking two of his stars to Victoria to try and boost their rankings for this year’s race at Addington Raceway on Tuesday, November 12. 

While District Attorney is borderline at 16 in the rankings, Major Moth has loads of work to do down in 27th spot.

The pair will tackle the $75,000 Group 2 Kilmore Cup on Friday week (September 27).

District Attorney ran a slashing second to Catch A Wave in last Saturday week’s Group 1 Len Smith Mile at Menangle.

Major Moth suffered his first defeat in four starts for Grimson when a disappointing eighth after leading, albeit beaten just six metres.

The pair will then progress to the $300,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup at Melton on October 12.

X X X

Gifted Queensland trotter Gus has joined Victorian champion Just Believe as the second confirmed Aussie headed towards the $400,000 Renwick Farms Dominion Trot at Addington on November 12.

Trainer Chantal Turpin confirmed the brilliant Gus was already booked a flight to NZ.

Just Believe will likely tackle a free-for-all at Melton on Saturday as he continues his preparation.

Other leading Victorian contenders Callmethebreeze and Arcee Phoenix are headed towards the Group 3 Kilmore Trotters’ Cup on Friday week.

There has been lots of talk about the Kiwi-owned Queen Elida heading to NZ for the Dominion and some mares’ trotting races, but trainer Brent Lilley said it was more likely she would stay in Victoria to prepare for the NSW Inter Dominion series.

X X X

Boom Victorian trotting filly Keayang Zahara could be New Zealand-bound for the inaugural $500,000 THE ASCENT at Addington on Show Day.

The daughter of Volstead was stunning winning the $100,000 Group 1 Vicbred final for three-year-old trotting fillies at Melton last night.

It was her sixth win from as many starts as she did all the work and cruised away to win by 13m in a stunning 1min56.8sec mile rate for 2240m.

“There’s talk about NZ and that would be pretty cool,” driver Jason Lee said. “We think she’s very, very special and she had to be that good to win like that tonight.”

Earlier, former Kiwi pacer Heza Punk Rocker finished strongly to win the $150,000 Vicbred final for 4YO entires and geldings for trainer Emma Stewart and driver James Herbertson.

X X X

Coud forgotten star Captain Ravishing be a Victoria Cup smoky?

The five-year-old was the next big thing in Australian harness racing just 18 months ago before a string of niggling setbacks hit.

First-up for nine months, Captain Ravishing showed plenty of the sparkle that made him the toast of the sport when he blitzed his rivals at Geelong last Friday night.

Now trained by Freddy Taiba, brother of owner Hass Taiba, Captain Ravishing unleashed a paralysing sprint down the back straight from midfield to open up a huge lead rounding the final bend.

He went on to win by 10.8m in a 1min52.5sec mile, just 0.6sec outside the track record held by former Hunter Cup winner Honolua Bay.

Earlier in the night, former classy Kiwi mare Rakero Rebel impressively beat free-for-all company.

The five-year-old did a super job after sitting parked outside the leader in a 1min55.7sec mile rate for 2100m. She ripped home in 55.7 and 28.2sec.

Connections are still considering taking her to Christchurch in November for some feature mares’ races with stablemates Just Believe and Better Eclipse.

X X X

Queensland Oaks winner Aardie B Miki is heading to Victoria to chase another Oaks title.

Owner Mike Tanev confirmed the former Kiwi filly would tackle a heat of the Victoria Oaks at Melton on October 5 ahead of the Group 1 final a week later.

Aardie B Miki has raced just four times for Chantal Turpin for three wins and a luckless third.

Since winning the Queensland Oaks on July 27, the filly has raced just once for a sparkling win against older mares at Albion Park last Saturday week.

X X X

Emma Stewart’s stunning Vicbred record went to a new level last night.

Stewart and co-trainer Clayton Tonkin won all six Group 1 Vicbred pacing finals.

They started with a quinella (Heza Punk Rocker and Perfect Class) in the 4YO entires and geldings final, then followed with the first five home (headed by Miki To Success) in the 3YO colts and geldings final.

Iveseenheavenslight beat Let Her Roll to give them the quinella in the 2YO fillies final, then they snared the first four over the line in the 2YO colts and geldings final (headed by Always Hot).

It was even more dominant in the 3YO fillies where their seven runners filled the first seven placings. Showsomejoy won.

They completed the clean sweep when their only runner in the 4YO mares’ final, Sweet Bella, cruised to victory.

X X X

Emerging young Victorian driver Jackie Barker had a night to treasure at Melton.

The 28-year-old headed to Melton last night with 503 career wins, but none at Group 1 level.

She left with a double – both Group 1 wins – on three-year-old colt Miki To Success and Iveseenheavenslight.

“It’s a night I’ll never forget,” Barker said. “Emma (Stewart) and Clayton (Tonkin) have been great supporters so it’s great to team-up with them for these wins tonight.”