Exciting Kiwi trotter Stent is the 2013/14 Australian Pacing Gold Trotting Master.
The Colin and Julie DeFilippi trained five-year-old displayed great tenacity throughout the series contesting four of the six legs which resulted in a Group One victory in the Seelite Windows & Doors Australian Trotting Grand Prix at TABCORP Park, Melton.
Stent was placed in the other three events he contested.
The six leg Trotting Masters series comprises of the Hellers Dominion Handicap, Glenferrie Farm Challenge, Australian Trotting Grand Prix, Pryde’s Easifeed Great Southern Star, ANZAC Cup and the Canam Rowe Cup.
Stent finished the series with 260 points, 40 points clear of his nearest rival Keystone Del who managed to win both the Glenferrie Farm Challenge on his home track of TABCORP Park, Menangle plus the Great Southern Star.
The Dream Vacation gelding amassed more than $200,000 in prizemoney this season.
The top five point scorers on the Australian Pacing Gold Trotting Masters this season were;
Stent (260 points)
Keystone Del (220)
Master Lavros (201)
Superbowlcheerleader (101)
My High Expectations (90)
The crowning of Stent continues this amazing record New Zealand trotters possess at the elite level following on from last year’s hero Vulcan while names like I Can Doosit, One Over Kenny, Mountbatten, Allegro Agitato, Take A Moment and the ultimate champion Lyell Creek.
The opening leg of the Australian Pacing Gold Trotting Masters was held in November at Addington during Cup week and giant trotter Master Lavros proved he was a star on the rise when he proved too strong for aging warrior Stig with Stent third.
The 3200m stand start feature was covered in a time of 2;03.2.
Action then headed to Sydney for the Glenferrie Farm Challenge and born again trotter Keystone Del finished best to score defeating Stent while Elegant Image filled third placing.
The 1609m mobile feature was covered in a time of 1;53.9.
With the spotlight firmly on Melbourne for the next two legs, Stent stood tall and claimed a thoroughly deserving victory in the Australian Trotting Grand Prix defeating Aleppo Midas and My High Expectations.
Stent rated 1;59.1 for the 2240m mobile feature.
The Great Southern Star which comprises of heats and final on the same program was taken by Keystone Del who finished with a well-timed sprint to defeat Stent and My High Expectations.
The 1720m mobile feature was covered in a time of 1;56.5.
The final two legs of the series were hosted by the Auckland Trotting Club at Alexandra Park and the ANZAC Cup was taken out by the mare Superbowlcheerleader who nosed out Aussie invader Zedalite while Cool Cobber finished third.
Superbowlcheerleader rated 2;00.9 for the 2200m mobile feature.
Master Lavros started the season with a victory in the Dominion and ended the series with another victory by claiming the Rowe Cup after holding off the challenge of Sheemon with Boizel back in third.
The 3200m stand start feature was covered in a time of 2;03.9.
It was another wonderful season but Stent is the Australian Pacing Gold Trotting Master, congratulations to Colin and Julie DeFilippi and owner Trevor Casey.