Shaun Kelly, of HRV, said the attendance was up by more than a thousand people over last year despite rain in the afternoon of the meeting. “We have not got the final figures in for betting turnover, but that too was looking very good.” 

Trainer Tonkin also said after the win that drawing the pole in the Cup was a barrier he did not think would suit his horse.  “People think the horse does not have speed. He certainly has, but I did think he was likely to be crossed at the start by Howard Bromac NZ and would finish up three back along the pegs.  With no inside lane at this track, I imaged he might have trouble getting clear in the final stages.” 

Actually, that is exactly what happened when Robin Hood and Gavin Lang did land in that spot soon after the start.

About To Rock (Kate Thompson) did begin best to cross to the lead from the mobile despatch, while Slipnslide (Luke McCarthy) was eased back in the field from its wide barrier.  

Jack Butler was quick to move out three wide with Dinki Di to move forward in a hurry. This brought an immediate reaction from Kirk Larsen to let Howard Bromac NZ dash forward and take up the running, placing Robin Hood three back on the inside running. 

Slipnslide, which finally started the favourite in the race, was pulled out three wide back at the rear, with McCarthy obviously staying there in the hope his horse would flush something out ahead of them to cart the favourite into the race.  Before this move could work, Slipnslide uncharacteristically broke in running, causing interference to others back in the field.  

Further interference would take place in the Cup that would later lead stewards to suspend Anthony Butt (Mister DG NZ) for four weeks after his horse hampered The Warp Drive and Sting Lika Bee at a crucial stage. 

It was later found that Mister DG NZ had pulled up sore, with Butt then announcing the pacer trained by his brother David would be retired from racing. (Mister DG NZ had raced 78 times for 20 wins, 18 placings and prizemoney totalling $727,183.) 

The efforts of both Sting Lika Bee and The Warp Drive in finishing unplaced should be overlooked in the lead-up to the rich A.G. Hunter Cup at Moonee Valley in two weeks. Allowing for natural improvement in Robin Hood, the Ballarat pacer will have an army of supporters for Australia’s premier staying event, remembering how this pacer had earlier won the two-mile Kilmore Cup. 

New Zealand’s top pacer of the moment, Howard Bromac NZ, would have lost no friends with its nice second in the Ballarat Cup.  Trainer-driver Kirk Larsen said after the race the effort had shown him his horse was as good as any around. “I can’t wait for the Hunter Cup because the long trip will really suit him,” he said. 

The Andy Gath-trained About To Rock (winner of the SA Cup a fortnight earlier) had some trouble gaining a clear run over the concluding stages when Robin Hood peeled off the back of Howard Bromac NZ to make its winning move.  About To Rock continues to race in the best form of its injury-plagued career while usually starting at big odds. 

Robin Hood is part-owned by Ballarat friends Kevin Lewis and Geoff Armstrong. They first ventured into harness racing almost 30 years ago when their ambition then was to have a pacer good enough to win a Mt Gambier Cup.  Robin Hood has long raced itself out of being eligible for a Mt Gambier Cup.  While they have yet to realise that ambition, they do now have one of the best pacers in the country capable of playing a prominent role in some of our major events. 

They said they took a liking to Robin Hood when they first saw him at the yearling sales. It is by Fake Left US from Surface Paradise.  They race the horse in partnership with Tonkin, Garry Mennie, Gino and Nancy Goegan, Joe Tullio, Russell Doyle and Joe Bono.  Its success story is an example how a number of friends can pool their resources to have the clout to purchase a well-bred lot at the sales. 

While there is no obvious super star racing presently in Australasia, there are quite a number of stars jostling to be recognised among the elite group that make up any list of our best pacers.  This is now providing Group 1 races with those rare occasions where one can make a case for any horse in the field having a winning chance.  It is indeed a boom time for the major clubs and their promotions departments.