Sport
10 March, 2024
Cup winners in lead all the way
FEATURE race winners at Boort Trotting Club’s cops meeting on Sunday dominated the track. Wish Upon a Dream led the entire 2612-metre journey to win the Peter Walsh Trotter’s Cup. And Harryhoo repeated the feat over 2250 metres in almost track...
FEATURE race winners at Boort Trotting Club’s cops meeting on Sunday dominated the track.
Wish Upon a Dream led the entire 2612-metre journey to win the Peter Walsh Trotter’s Cup.
And Harryhoo repeated the feat over 2250 metres in almost track record time to take out the Neil Beattie and Family Pacing Cup in 2:47.4.
Driver Michelle Phillips judged the start to perfection as Harryhoo, backed for the win at $16. set up an ultimate victory by just under six metres.
It was the first win since Charlton in January for Junortoun trainer Danny Curran.
Interpretation finished second, unable to bridge the gap as the field headed past the post on the bell.
Cup favourite Hanging Fire ($3.80) went three wide early and finished a disappointing sixth in the field of 10.
Curran said Harryhoo had run a terrific race and praised the drive of Phillips who has now had three wins in the sulky with the 2024 cup winner.
That bond between driver and trainer was also on show in the trotter’s cup where Michael Bellman drove Wish Upon a Star to her second victory in a fortnight.
Trained by Rebecca Morrisey at Longlea, Wish Upon a Star started the race as third favourite but finished a neck clear of punter favourite Berriesandcherries in the cracking final metres to the finish line.
Berriesandcherries had raced roughly soon after the start, only to recover and be one out, one back at the bell.
Tripod was a strong finisher in the trotter’s cup to come in third, although nine metres behind the leading pair.
Phillips also drove Outback Queenie to victory in the Ian Mercer Tribute Pace, beating out the favourite Joe Got Rolled by 5.9 metres.
The race was also the first heat of the Victorian pacing championship for 2024.
Inglewood-trained Ontherunway surrendered the bell lap lead to finish second in the Robert Coutts Maiden Trot.
It was the first start for the mare trained by Trevor Ralph who put the horse into training only last November.
Ralph said Ontherun would have its next start at Birchip on Sunday.
Sunday’s cup meeting was the first for new club president Tim Byrne who has become the fifth father-son combination to have led the club since its formation in 1893. His father was president from 1992 to 2001.
The all-female driver Patrick Dwyer Tribute Pace saw the Boort event build on donations already totalling $28,000 for the Team Teal initiative raising funds for ovarian cancer.
A total of $1200 was raised on the back of success in three races for the female drivers at Boort.
The Joe Thompson trained Fair Chance finished fifth in the Ned Fitzpatrick Tribute Pace
Wedderburn Harness Racing Club continues to race at the Maryborough club’s Carisbrook track and has its next meeting scheduled there tomorrow.