By John Dunne (HRV)<\/p>\n
JUANITA Breen is hoping last Saturday night\u2019s impressive Metropolitan Pace Final winner Roarforroscoe can deliver her harness racing bucket list.<\/p>\n
Roarforroscoe ($6) made a sustained three wide run without cover for last 900 metres of the race joining the $2.40 favorite Beach Memories on the final bend and fought on resolutely in the home straight to score by a neck, at Tabcorp Park Melton.<\/p>\n
The 48-year-old Breen revealed after the race, of a long-time ambition in the sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to win a Group 1 before I turn 50,\u201d Breen said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t care which horse but he\u2019s the most likely suspect,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Breen came within three metres of achieving her goal when the son of Betterthancheddar finished runner up behind Catch A Wave in last year\u2019s Group 1 Vicbred Super Series (3YO Colts & Geldings) Final.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe really ripped some ground off Catch A Wave over the last 400 metres after being three back along the pegs,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s got a motor but I\u2019m not sure he knows he\u2019s got one or knows how to use it.\u201d<\/p>\n
* * * <\/p>\n
Meanwhile Shane Sanderson\u2019s decision to race Vanquish Stride ($26) out of his class was vindicated when the five-year-old \u2018dive-bombed\u2019 his rivals along the sprint lane in the Blacks A Fake Free For All.<\/p>\n
There was a hint of confidence emanating from the stable pre-race when Sanderson indicated the son of Bettors Delight was \u2018a sneaky chance from the pole\u2019 and the race panned out to script for the Charlton based trainer.<\/p>\n
Vanquish Stride settled three back along the pegs as the leader Huli Nien was allowed to stride freely throwing a 27.6 back straight quarter at his rivals and the five-year-old hugged the pegs scoring by a neck from the well backed leader in a slick mile rate of 1:52.<\/p>\n
The win provided a 20th birthday present for Ryan Sanderson who acknowledged the race couldn\u2019t have unfolded any better.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the best birthday present- he got the dream run into it and that\u2019s what we were really hoping for and it just all worked out,\u201d Sanderson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe bumped him up in grade so he could draw the one and he\u2019s really good on the fence, he\u2019s a bit of an opportunist if they roll along like they did tonight,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
* * * <\/p>\n
Outstanding trotting mare Queen Elida made it seven wins from her past eight starts when she outclassed her rivals in the Group 3 Hip Pocket Workwear Matriarch Trot and driver Chris Alford was quick to rank her with the best he has driven.
\n\u201cShe\u2019s as good as any trotter I\u2019ve driven and the beautiful gate she\u2019s got makes it extra good,\u201d Alford said.
\nAlford also believes the daughter of Love You has the credentials to follow in the footsteps of Just Believe and prove competitive on the world stage in Sweden.
\n\u201cI think if she got the chance she wouldn\u2019t let herself or any of us down, that\u2019s for sure,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
* * *<\/p>\n
A gear malfunction didn\u2019t prevent emerging three-year-old Final Collect from completing a hat trick of wins in the Happy 60th Jeff Ewing 3YO Pace.<\/p>\n
Final Collect pulled out from midfield in the running line to stake its claim with 500 metres to travel and driver Jackie Barker tried in vain to release the ear plugs around the home turn however the Lance Justice trained pacer defied all challenges in the home straight.<\/p>\n
Barker said she was concerned when the ear plugs failed to release.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was really worried because I couldn\u2019t get the plugs out of him, they go hooked up somewhere and I was worried because he is so blocked up with his eyes if that horse got to him he might not have realised it as much,\u201d Barker said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTonight gave me that positive feeling that he can do a bit of work, two 27 quarters to run home in and he was three wide and I really like the way he hit the line and kept fighting all the way to the end.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By John Dunne (HRV) JUANITA Breen is hoping last Saturday night\u2019s impressive Metropolitan Pace Final winner Roarforroscoe can deliver her harness racing bucket list. Roarforroscoe ($6) made a sustained three wide run without cover for last 900 metres of the race joining the $2.40 favorite Beach Memories on the final bend and fought on resolutely […]<\/p>\n