Harness Highlights

By Len Baker

Victoria’s Country Cups season commenced at Maryborough on Sunday 17 September when Maryborough staged their season features – the $30,000 Community Bank Maryborough Gold Cup over 2690 metres supplemented by the $25,000 Total Cool Maryborough Trotters Cup over 2690 metres, both races taken out by short priced favourites.

Five year old gelding One Over All overcame a 30 metre backmark to win the Trotters Cup in a breeze. Trained at Myrniong by the Tubbs/Sugars team with Greg driving, One Over All began safely as the tapes released to possie four back in the moving line as Victree Hill (Glen Craven) resuming from a Brisbane campaign during the winter crossed Blue Coman (barrier two) from barrier four.

Going forward three wide approaching the bell, One Over All showed a brilliant turn of speed to cross and lead for the final circuit before careering away in the straight to score by nine metres from Victree Hill which battled on gamely. Blue Coman was third 3.6 metres back a neck in advance of The Penny Drops who showed that a win is not far off.

With brilliant quarters of 30.9, 29.6, 28.7 and 28.7 after a lead time of 86.6 seconds, One Over All returned a mile rate of 2-00.1.

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At a massive ten race card at Melton last Tuesday (19 Sept), Balliang trainer/driver Jason Hackett was victorious with Always B Miki-Anna Finn filly Alanna Miki, taking the Download The TAB App 3Y0 Maiden Pace over 2240 metres. Settling four back then three back along the markers from inside the second line as Diamondsnblue led from gate three, Alanna Miki after coming away from the inside to be momentarily one/one in the last lap angled three wide on the final bend and ran home best to register a 4.8 metre margin over Bulletproof Kid (three wide last lap from mid-field), with John Vincent third after racing exposed for the last lap third 4 metres back. The mile rate 1-59.5.

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Dunnstown trainer David Murphy’s home bred 4Y0 mare Arklow raced by the Murphy family landed the Blonde & Com Pace over 2150 metres at Yarra Valley on Wednesday returning a mile rate of 2-01.5. Driven by son Declan, Arklow sped across the face of the field from outside the front line to lead before being eased to allow The Falcon Prince (gate two) trailing to move around her and take over. Using the sprint lane, Arklow bloused the leader by 3.3 metres, with Friends 1.9 metres back in third place after following the pair.

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The Kilmore harness program last Thursday September 21 was transferred to Melton due to ongoing lighting problems.

Veteran Coimadai octogenarian Graeme Whittle trainer/driver of Amunet a honest 6Y0 daughter of Majestic Son and Melpark Sunrise landed the Buds & Branches Florist Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres in a rate of 2-02.8. Beginning fast from gate three to cross polemarker Spanomarli, Amunet led throughout to register a neck margin over stablemates Reigning Lillies off a three wide trail from three back last lap, with Whats The Tea flying home out wide for third a half neck back after trailing the stablemate home. It was Amunet’s 6th success in 64 outings.