Sport
30 September, 2021
Heats on the agenda for Derby hopefuls
LOCAL harness racing trainers will begin their quest toward group one success this Saturday at Bendigo.
LOCAL harness racing trainers will begin their quest toward group one success this Saturday at Bendigo.
A number of local pacers and trotters are set to step out at the meeting ahead of numerous group ones on October 9 and later this year.
Matthew Craven’s trio Kimble, October Reign and Bettor Call Me, Paddy Lee’s Jilliby Fernando, Marg Lee’s Jilliby Dynamite and Gary Lawlor’s Notnegotiable are all entered in Victoria Derby heats.
Pink Galahs will tackle the group three Chris Howe Trotters Free For All ahead of the Bill Collins Trotters Mile the following Saturday.
Saturday night’s meeting is rounded out by a number of other horses set to contest events.
Queen of Crime, Aldebaran Tess and A Jewel In The Crown will contest a $20,000 trot, while Master Moonlite and Itzamajor Surprise will tackle a $20,000 pace.
Arden Roanoke is also entered for the $20,000 pace but is an emergency and is also entered in a $10,000 pace on the card.
In other harness racing news, Marg Lee, Paddy Lee and Barry Beasley were all in the winners’ stalls at Horsham last Friday.
Jilliby Peach won on debut for Marg Lee, with the filly winning a three year-old maiden pace.
Sent out a $1.90 favourite, Jilliby Peach scored an 11.9 metre victory under the guidance of driver Glen Craven.
Craven added a second win three races later when he steered Keayang Xena to victory for Paddy Lee.
The three year-old trotter was too good for nine opponents, scoring a 16.1 metre win after being sent round as the $3.30 favourite for the 2200 metre event.
Beasley tasted success with knockabout pacer Tedkane, which is enjoying a rich vein of form.
The four year-old won for the second time in six starts, with Jackie Barker driving the gelding to a 1.1 metre victory in a restricted pace over 2200 metres.
Matthew Craven enjoyed a triumph at Melton on Thursday night, with imported trotter Lotamuscle claiming its third win for the stable.
Meanwhile, five local horses have been nominated for the presitigious InterDominion series later this year.
Marg Lee’s trio Code Bailey, Jilliby Chevy and Keayang Livana, while Craven’s pair Pink Galahs and Lotamuscle have been nominated for the series, which did not go ahead last year due to COVID.
2020 Terang Cup winner Code Bailey and Jilliby Chevy have been nominated for the $500,000 Pacing Championship.
Group one winners Pink Galahs and Keayang Livana and import Lotamuscle are among the nominations for the $150,000 Trotting Championship.
The InterDominion consists of participants gaining points throughout three heat stages on November 27, December 1 and 5, with the top 12 qualifying for the finals on December 11.
Harness Racing New South Wales is staging the championships, with heats to be conducted at Menangle, Bathurst and Newcastle, with the finals held at Mengangle.