Four Needed wins on Victoria Cup night for Kate and Andy Gath. Their good form continued today at Maryborough.
Less than 24 hours after their Victoria Cup night treble Long Forest’s Andy and Kate Gath were back in the winners’ stalls courtesy of an emerging five-year-old today at Maryborough.
Since joining the Gath camp Star Of Dionysis, a former Kiwi gelding by American Ideal out of Star Of Venus, is two-from-two.
Today he joined horses such as Albert Terrill (career stakes of $313,725), Bitobliss ($473,737), Restrepo ($507,018) and Major Secret ($294,734) on the Harness Training Centre Bendigo Central Victorian Pacing Championships Final honour roll after an impressive all-the-way win.
Punters backed Star Of Dionysis into a firm $2 favourite from the pole draw for the standing start, 2190-metre contest and he stepped away in a typically professional manner (he is now 14: 7-2-1 from behind the tapes).
Future Operator actually began best from five and led but Kate Gath reacted by quickly angling off the pegs aboard the favourite to assume the front.
Punters can usually be pretty happy with themselves once the even money shot lobs the top in a standing start race, but on this occasion nervous moments were immediately ahead.
It wasn’t long before backmarker Oh Jonny B Good and driver Mark Pitt had circled the field and were up eyeballing the favourite.
Going around with Jonny was Emmanuel for Matthew Craven, but when the breeze wasn’t up for grabs he was restrained. He then galloped and went back to the rear.
Due to the pressure being applied Star Of Dionysis thundered through the first quarter in a slick 28.2secs, following up with splits of 29.8 and 29.9secs.
At the final bend Star Of Dionysis had only one danger, Alotbettor for driver Nathan Jack, who was ready to rip home after enjoying a one-out, one-back trail just behind the speed throughout.
But the leader found another gear, determinedly holding off the challenger to score a head victory in 1:59.1 (28.8secs final quarter).
Oh Jonny B Good stuck on gamely for third, the three favourites the first three pacers over the line.
Earlier on the Maryborough card rising star four-year-old trotting mare My Tribeca, an Italian bred daughter of Goetmals Wood out of Image, won the Harness Racing Training Centre Bendigo Central Victorian Trotting Championship for trainer Anton Golino and reinsman Greg Sugars.
My Tribeca scored by 24.5m in a mile rate of 2:03.6, defeating runner-up Pocket Of Fortune and third placegetter Eljaykay Phoenix. Today’s win makes it five on the spin for My Tribeca.
Craig Demmler’s exciting four-year-old pacer My Kiwi Mate also made a strong return to the track, winning the Aldebaran Park Pace by 2.6m over Linda Lovegrace in a rate of 1:58.2 after sitting in the breeze and shooting for home at the quarter pole (56.3 last 800m).
My Kiwi Mate is expected to head towards the Bonanza on Hunter Cup night at Melton this coming Saturday with the Chariots of Fire at Menangle also an option.
> Video: Replay of Star Of Dionysis winning the Central Vic Pacers Championship Final today
> Video: My Tribeca wins the Central Vic Trotters Championship Final today
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CODY WINNELL
COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA MANAGER
HARNESS RACING VICTORIA
PO BOX 184, MOONEE PONDS, VIC 3039
400 EPSOM ROAD, FLEMINGTON, VIC 3031
t: 03 8378 0288 | f: 03 9214 0699 | e: cwinnell@hrv.org.au
www.hrv.org.au
