Southern trotter flexes big time in Addington win

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk

Southern trotter Bring On The Muscle was given little chance in Friday's Gallagher Insurance Handicap Trot at Addington.

He was after all fresh up, off a 45 metre handicap, and racing a number of in-form and race-hardened rivals.

But the Clark Barron-trained five-year-old and driver Matthew Williamson proved the sceptics wrong in emphatic fashion as they came from a long way back to outsprint George Eliot by a head with Major Doosie third.

"That is surely the performance of the night," declared commentator Matt Cross.

Williamson was equally impressed.

"It was a terrific run, especially first up"

"He was travelling really good at the home bend .... and he just kept finding."

It was the Majestic Son gelding's 11th win in 40 starts and his first race since finishing fifth in January's Group 3 Southern Lights at Ascot Park.

On a cold, wet and windy Addington, the Dalgetys also had a night to remember.

Cran and Chrissie Dalgety took five horses to the races and produced three winners. 

Son Carter drove all three, passing 300 career victories in the process. The country's leading junior driver has 63 this wins this season so far, with stakes earning of more than $1m in 2026. 

Fresh up Franco Ankara started red hot after starring at the trials and he didn't disappoint. He was made to work hard but still had enough to take out the Congrats to Members Winner "John Blatchford" Mobile Pace as he opened his 3Y0 campaign.

Asymmetric Return made it two in a row for the stable after settling midfield in the Bet On a Better Future Red Nose Day Fundraiser Pace. She made her move just before the home turn before cruising to victory by more than two lengths.

A Carter Dalgety special then helped get classy mare Beside Me home in the Peninsula Beachfront Resort Mooloolaba Mobile Pace.

When favourite Always A Porsche, driven by John Dunn, broke early Dalgety pushed forward with Beside Me from a wide draw to wrestle the lead. He controlled the tempo before winning by nearly two lengths.

"I saw John out the back and risked going forward," Dalgety said.

He has previously referred to Beside Me as his equine girlfriend and he was delighted to see her win in her first race since January.

"I'm so happy."

Dalgety was also second with another Kentuckiana runner in St Paddy.

He finished behind the Regan Todd-trained Franco Lomu in the Touchdown Car Rentals Rising Stars Series for up to two-win 3YO male pacers.

Franco Lomu, St Paddy and the third and fourth place-getters Partytime and Nikolai Ray have now all qualified for the $30,000 final at Addington on August 21, with the second and final heat being held a week earlier on August 14.