General News
11 March, 2025
Manning double on day of drama
By LEN BAKER AUSTRALIA’S oldest surviving trotting club, Boort established in 1891, held their annual Cup Day meeting last Sunday. The exciting nine race program featuring the Neil Beattie Family Boort Pacing Cup over 2612 metres and the Hon...
By LEN BAKER
AUSTRALIA’S oldest surviving trotting club, Boort established in 1891, held their annual Cup Day meeting last Sunday.
The exciting nine race program featuring the Neil Beattie Family Boort Pacing Cup over 2612 metres and the Hon. Peter Walsh Boort Trotters Cup over the same trip, each for a stake of $12,000.
The Pacing Cup went to Great Western trainer/driver Kerryn Manning’s Kiwi bred 5Y0 Bettors Delight-Ideal Belle gelding Lincoln River following a long review.
Raced by Merv and Meg Butterworth, Lincoln River lobbed one/one from gate five as the poleline leader and favourite Collective Works went off stride on the first turn veering wide then shifting to the inside, but retaining the front running.
This caused interference to a number of runners in the first half dozen.
Moving to race exposed briefly, Lincoln River gained cover when Darby McGuigan sent Shadow Celt forward from the tail after starting from the extreme draw to face the open with two laps to travel giving Lincoln River one/one cover once again.
Going three wide approaching the final bend, Lincoln River couldn’t catch Collective Works which safely held him at bay to score by 4.1 metres, with Cee Cee In America third 12.8 metres back before being promoted to second. Angus Indiana (three pegs – one/two last lap) was a metre back third after also being promoted, wth Collective Works disqualified from the race completely.
In quarters of 30.9, 30.4, 29.1 and 28.3 after a lead time of 77 seconds, Lincoln River was credited with a mile rate of 2-00.7.
The Trotters Cup was equally exciting – the victor being 6Y0 Creatine-Shining Sun gelding Sir Eros for Armstrong trainer Danny O’Brien and Kerryn Manning.
Earlier in the day they landed the D.W. (Bill) Foley Tribute Trotters Mobile over 2250 metres with 16 start Art Major-Russian Ball gelding The Ninth Wave giving both Danny and owner Anthony Lombardi a day they won’t forget.
In another incident packed affair, Yankee Lover (barrier three) began fast to lead defying a challenge from Double Helix from outside the front line with Sir Eros after stepping safely from barrier four in a sweet one/one position.
Alby Ashwood sent Midnight Eagle (barrier five) forward with more than two laps to travel, joining the leader when both he and Yankee Lover about to enter the straight with two laps to travel galloped putting themselves out of business allowing Double Helix to stride clear.
Going forward to race exposed shortly after, Sir Eros trotted to perfection, accounting for Tripod (one/one) from inside the second line which gained a split on turning, but couldn’t reel in the winner going down by a head, with 30 metre backmarker Berriesandcherries, winner of the cup race at Wedderburn, 1.6 metres away a great third after racing three wide solo for the last two laps. Sir Eros returned a mile rate of 2-06.5.