Manuka Man kicks clear for a strong win at Melton.
Manuka Man’s rise up the ranks continued on Friday night at Tabcorp Park Melton with an impressive run to take out the second heat of the Gordon Rothacker Memorial Championship.
The Vince Vallelonga trained six-year-old backed up a strong last-start Yarra Valley win with a 5.9m victory over Lord Monaloo in a mile rate of 1:55.3 in last night’s 1720m race.
The son of Our Sir Vancelot/Mother Case completed his last half-mile in 56 seconds as Damien Wilson guided him to victory.
Reinsman Grant Campbell finished with a driving double, book-ending the program by piloting Zeke Slater trained Giuliani to a half-head win in the first heat of the Gordon Rothacker Championship (Race 1) and My Dads A Ten in the Empire Stallions Vicbred Trot (Race 10).
Tasmanian Giuliani, raced by the Butterworth Syndicate, rated 1:53.4 and defeated Crusader Acey and Call Me Bond in a tight finish.
My Dads A Ten looked a class above his rivals, sweeping to a 6.6m win over Dora Pepperell in 2:01.0.
The two feature races for the night went to the odds-on favourites with Maximan winning the Markovina Free-for-All and Keystone Del taking out the Derby Royale Trotters Free-for-All.
Maximan was sent out a $1.30 favourite in the Markovina Free-for-All and didn’t disappoint, the Andy Gath trained son of Armbro Operative/Clifton Beauty with Kate Gath in the cart dashing home by 2.8m over Wartime Sweetheart.
Maximan, whose mile rate was 1:58.6 (last half 55.6), has now won five of his eight Australian starts and is expected to contest cups at Cranbourne and Ballarat.
Australasia’s best trotter Keystone Del made it nine straight wins with an arrogant performance to take out the Derby Royale.
The Nicole Molander trained superstar didn’t have any cover for the final lap and gradually worked around the field from the back to be within a length of race leader My High Expectations at the 800m.
The pace had been on early with a 44.9-second lead time much quicker than the pacers in the Markovina.
When driver Blake Fitzpatrick put the foot down aboard Keystone Del coming off the back My High Expectations could offer no resistance.
Keystone Del quickly slipped daylight clear of the field and Fitzpatrick sat quietly in the stretch as the son of Dr Ronerail/Flipside cruised home by 6.2m over I See Icy Earl, who finished like a rocket out wide.
Other winners on the program were More Than Modern (1:57.2 and 57.8) in the Tabcorp Park Melton Pace Final over 1720m for trainer Marg Lee and reinsman Jason Lee, Belliciouslips in the Gunbower Cup Sunday Pace over 1720m for trainer Rodney Ashwood and reinsman Alex Ashwood in a rate of 1:55.9 over the 1720m trip (last half 56.5), Pretty Sunday for trainer Brent Lilley and driver Anthony Butt in the TAB.com.au Trotters Handicap over 2240m in a rate of 2:02.6 (58), Arber at big odds in the 2240m Cranbourne Tri-Codes Saturday Night Pace for trainer Tim Bolitho and driver Daryl Douglas (rating 1:57.2 with a last half of 56.2), and Yeah Right in the Cogs Group Claiming Pace over 2240m for trainer/driver David Moran in 1:58.3 (58.9).
