Reigning Victorian Horse of the Year Sundons Gift made a one-act affair of the Chris Howe Trotters Cup on Friday night
Sensational victories by the last two Victorian Horses of the Year and a dominant triumph by one of the sport’s genuine rising stars headlined another sparkling program of racing from Tabcorp Park, Melton on Friday night.
In the first of a trinity of co-features from Victorian harness headquarters Glenn Douglas’ rapidly improving four-year-old, Our Hillview Gold first won a stirring battle in the betting ring before going on claim the $25,000 Alabar Spring Championship Final in arrogant fashion.
Sent out a $2.40 favourite in the 1720-metre series decider ahead of boom four-year-old and fellow heat winner, Renaissance Man, Douglas’ burgeoning star employed the advantage of his gun draw (3) to press forward early and take control of the race.
Recording a lead time of 7.3 and a moderate first half of 60 seconds flat with his main threat eyeballing him in the breeze most of the way, the striking son of Badlands Hanover displayed his dominance over the final 800-metres, cutting closing splits of 28.4 and 27.8 to win running away.
Tony Peacock’s talented polemarker Lord Lombo and early leader Radical Assassin filled the placings, 6.9 and 7.6 metres behind the winner respectively, with Renaissance Man clinging on to fourth in a slick mile rate for the short course of 1:55.6.
The following race – the $20,000 VHRSC Classic – saw a spine tingling duel between two horses at different stages of their career trajectories, but almost inseparable with regard to talent and potential.
Melpark Major – the 2008/2009 Victorian Horse of the Year – has had a tough run in recent times, but having vanquished Victoria’s most highly rated horse, Smoken Up when able to find the front two starts back, punters rallied to Alan Tubbs’ superstar sprinter on the proviso that he show the way again.
And after leaving the arm as $2.40 second-elect behind potential champion and Miracle Mile aspirant Villagem ($2.10), the hulking son of Iraklis did just that, cruising to the top almost unchallenged in a lead time and first half of 47.1 and 63.4 seconds respectively before the fireworks started.
With Villagem creeping around to face the breeze a lap from home, the two great horses settled down for an incendiary sprint to the line, careering away from their rivals in electrifying final splits of 27.4 and 27.3 seconds, with Amy Tubbs and “Donny” only breaking the deadlock in the shadows of the post.
In the end the margin amounted to 3 metres, with a further 3.7 metres separating Villagem and Karlsruhe in a mile rate of 1:58.7 and a mind-blowing final half of 54.7.
After the race, all the talk surrounded Melpark Major’s almost certain and certainly controversial omission from next Saturday’s Miracle Mile, given his exemplary record and form, but for all associated with the champion pacer just having him back to his breathtaking best is more than they could ask for.
In the last of a triumvirate of top races from Tabcorp Park, reigning Victorian Horse of the Year Sundons Gift made it a night for the class runners, smashing rivals in the Group 3 Chris Howe Trotters Cup to smithereens on his way to win number 36.
Sent out at the juicy quote of $1.20, Chris Lang’s inspiring son of Sundon was forced to track three wide through a lead time of 45.9 and first half of 62.3 in the 2240-metre mobile feature, but typically made light of the task, eventually pulling his way to the top and controlling the race henceforth.
Gradually upping the ante down the back straight the final time, the nine-year-old living legend simply schooled his inferior rivals, finishing off in 29.6 and 28.4 to complete a mile rate of 1:59.4 and topple the very brave La Mosca by 8.7 metres, setting up a mouth watering clash next week.
In what shapes as one of the most anticipated support races in recent memory, Sundons Gift is scheduled to face off with Chris Alford’s five-year-old squaregaiting sensation, Down Under Muscles in the $50,000 NSW Trotters Mile as part of a cracking Miracle Mile undercard at Menangle.
