Welcome to the big time Hillbilly Blues

By Michael Guerin

That is one hell of an exclamation mark to put on a season of trotting domination.

That is what trainers Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett did at Alexandra Park tonight when Hillbilly Blues stepped into open class and then soon after the winner’s circle for the $100,000 Peter Breckon Memorial National Trot.

The big trotter, who went into the Group 1 only a Rating 65 horse, made the most of a perfect Tony Herlihy drive to trail Mighty Logan, find the right path at the top of straight and then hold out Oscar Bonavena with the winner’s stablemate Belle Neige third.

Mighty Logan disappointed by fading after having an relatively easy time in front.

The win was an arrival for Hillbilly Blues who has looked an open class horse in waiting this campaign but that wait is over before anybody expected.

He is a powerful, smooth going horse with real speed who is loving life on the beach since Tony Herlihy sent him out there, a recipe he employed so successfully with another Group 1 trotter in Temporale a few years ago.

If you are going to send a trotter anywhere in the north, or just about anywhere in the country for that matter, the Wallis/Hackett stable is a pretty smart option.

They have had a wonderful season with their beloved squaregaiters, the National Trot their 55th trotting winner for the season, with two pacing wins thrown in for a bit of fun as well.

That is their most successful season ever and took them past $1million in stakes for the first time in their career, thanks to a horse whose best races may still lie ahead.

“He is a really good horse and that was a lovely drive from Tony,” said Michelle Wallis.

“He has always had that speed and is now getting stronger.

“He hasn’t done much left-handed so we will talk to Tony and see what he thinks but no need to make a plan just yet with him.

“We were thrilled with Belle Neige too so very proud of the result.”

Hillbilly Blues has actually won a race at Cambridge and you would think getting him comfortable left-handed will be the next job for the trotting training supremos as a slot in the TAB Trot in April looks certain to be in the offing for a big fast horse with gate speed.

With some of our best trotters in the twilight of their careers and others facing a variety of issues, Hillbilly Blues only has to stay sound and happy to be a factor in the major trots in 2026 and maybe for a few years after that. 

He has the right people around him to ensure that happens.