Recently retired Cranbourne CEO David Scott, who is a part-owner of Livin The Life.
Livin The Life became the first Australasian Premier Trotting Sales graduate to greet the judge first after last night taking out the Kilmore Racing Club 2YO Trotters Handicap for trainer Michael Hughes and driver Chris Alford at Kilmore Harness Racing Club.
The bay gelding by Dream Vacation out of Cloud Chaser was purchased for $17,000 at the inaugural APTS at Melton’s Tabcorp Park in 2013 and is raced by committee members and staff of the Cranbourne Harness Racing Club.
Among connections are recently retired Cranbourne CEO David Scott, prominent owner, breeder, industry sponsor (Seelite Windows and Doors) and key driver of the APTS Joint Venture with Harness Racing Victoria Michael Taranto, legendary harness racing media figure Bill Hutchison, Robert and Gail Blanche (Robert is a past president at Cranbourne), Daryl Martin, and the Get In The Queue Group, which includes current Cranbourne CEO Neil Bainbridge and members of the Cranbourne Turf Club.
Livin The Life found the front early in the 2150m race and posted a 46.1 lead time before reeling off sectionals of 31.9, 32.8, 30.9 and 33.1 to defeat runner-up Est Est Est by 3.1m.
“Once he found the front last night I knew he’d be hard to beat,” Hughes said.
“He’s a very big, raw horse with a lot of growing to do. He’s not a two-year-old – he’ll get better and better as a three- and then four-year-old.”
Livin The Life’s winning mile rate was 2:10.8, the winner and Est Est Est drawing well clear of the rest of the field.
Both the first two horses over the line trotted safely throughout.
Hughes said Livin The Life would be aimed at the Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series heats on Tuesday at Geelong before having a look at the Redwood carnival at Maryborough and the Breeders Crown series.
Find out more about the Australasian Premier Trotting Sales.
