Top trotter flexes his muscle

EMERGING trotter Hesallmuscle returned from a short spell in impressive fashion at Melton on Saturday night when he took out the Aldebaran Park Trot.

Sent out a $1.50 favorite, Hesallmuscle was given time to balance up by Mark Pitt before working around the field to assume control with 1600 metres to travel.

The five-year-old always had the race in his keeping, reeling off a slick 27.7 final quarter while cruising to the line to score by 10 metres from Hephaestus Phoenix in a mile rate of 1:57.3.

Pitt said he allowed Hesallmuscle time to find his feet from a wide front row draw.

“There was a bit of speed under him, so I thought I’d let him work off the gate and bully his way to the front and that’s sort of how it worked out,” Pitt said.

“He got a good trip after that and he travelled really well throughout the race, and it was a pretty nice field to meet first-up.”

Pitt said he was confident of victory during the pre-race preliminary.

“Obviously he’s had his few little issues along the way, but he feels really strong now and he warmed up well tonight as he can be a bit scratchy,” he said.

“It’s a good sign that he’s going to have a good campaign.”