By Michael Howard<\/p>\n
An extraordinary night for reinsman Anthony Butt, who claimed both the three-year-old Group 1 features, and a ground-breaking performance by Lochinvar Art highlighted a stunning Night 2 of the TAB Summer of Glory.
\nButt doubled-down on a sublime Saturday evening at Tabcorp Park Melton when he added the Downbytheseaside Victoria Derby to an earlier Pryde\u2019s EasiFeed Victoria Oaks triumph, with Line Up carrying his favouritism status with aplomb in the $200,000 feature.
\nButt, a former Melton resident who\u2019s recently moved to Sydney, led from the outset with Line Up, spacing the chasing bunch with a 26.8-second third quarter before closing with a 27.8-second final 400 metres, which was enough to win by 1.6 metres from Grant Dixon\u2019s Governor Jujon.
\n\u201cHe\u2019s a lovely horse, very relaxed,\u201d Butt said. \u201cHe just went to sleep in front, that\u2019s what he likes. When I pulled the plugs around the bend he really zipped away. It was a big effort.\u201d
\nIt capped a big night for Butt, who earlier won the $150,000 Victoria Oaks with Dr Susan for New Zealand co-trainers Nathan Purdon and Cran Dalgety.
\nDr Susan actually broke her gait in a false start, but second time around would break the hearts of her rivals with a 26.3-second third quarter to set up victory in the Group 1.
\nThe all-the-way win was scored by 4.4 metres from favourite Stylish Memphis, a satisfying win for co-trainer Dalgety that he dedicated to Bacchus Marsh reinsman Gavin Lang, who is battling ill-health.
\n\u201cI just saw my good friend Gavin Lang today,\u201d Dalgety said post-race. \u201cGavin\u2019s having a wee bit of an off time, if I can dedicate a race I\u2019m going to dedicate it to that good man Gavin Lang. It seems a bit hollow tonight not having him win one of these big races.\u201d
\nThe three-year-old classics were almost overshadowed by Lochinvar Art\u2019s extraordinary performance in the Group 1 Alabar 4YO Bonanza, where he not only beat highly touted Self Assured but won in a 1:48.6 mile rate, the first time a horse has broken the magical 1:50 barrier in Victoria.
\n\u201cHe\u2019s just a legend really,\u201d Lochinvar Art\u2019s trainer-driver David Moran said. \u201cI\u2019m chuffed and lost for words. He\u2019s just a champion.\u201d
\nThere was also plenty of fun on track when Always Fast won the Mercury80 for Kima Frenning and Emma Stewart, capping the terrific 1200-metre series that began in front of thousands at Melton on New Year\u2019s Eve.
\nBut it\u2019s perhaps the Allied Express Casey Classic and DNR Logistics V L Dullard Trotters Cup that will create most conversation this week.
\nThose two features are likely to be key lead-ins to this Saturday\u2019s headliners on Night 3 of the TAB Summer of Glory back at Tabcorp Park Melton \u2013 the $500,000 Del-Re National A. G. Hunter Cup and the $250,000 What The Hill Great Southern Star. Those two crowns form Victoria\u2019s richest pacing race and Australia\u2019s richest trotting race respectively and will draw Australasia\u2019s most talented harness racing combatants to battle for a place in equine immortality.
\nKiwi Mach Shard reaffirmed he\u2019ll be a contender in the Hunter Cup with Saturday night\u2019s bold win in the Casey Classic, while another New Zealand raider, Temporale, hit the line in impressive fashion to win the trotters cup and build on his terrific record at Melton.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Michael Howard An extraordinary night for reinsman Anthony Butt, who claimed both the three-year-old Group 1 features, and a ground-breaking performance by Lochinvar Art highlighted a stunning Night 2 of the TAB Summer of Glory. Butt doubled-down on a sublime Saturday evening at Tabcorp Park Melton when he added the Downbytheseaside Victoria Derby to […]<\/p>\n