Gus And Maori and Mat and Caleb and Bryan set for Classic

18 December 2014 | Cody Winnell
Logo
Mat Craven and Gus An Maori will be chasing Group 1 glory on Saturday night.

Mat Craven and Gus An Maori will be chasing Group 1 glory on Saturday night.

Mat Craven is excited about the Gus An Maori’s future but he admits to being “a bit conservative” when it comes to talking up the horse's chances ahead of Saturday night’s Group 1 trot at Tabcorp Park Melton.

Craven will pilot the Caleb Lewis trained son of Angus Hall/Sumthingaboutmaori in the Empire Stallions Vicbred Platinum Home Grown Classic (3YO Trotting Colts and Geldings) Final over 1720m.

The Bryan Healy bred and raced colt has won two on the spin, defeating Aimforthemoon in his Home Grown heat last time out at Bendigo at odds of $1.60.

“He’s improving all the time. His first start (this time in) at Ballarat he battled a bit to hold his spot on the mobile but he was a lot better at Bendigo the other night,” Craven said.

“The second line makes it tough with Aiken’s drawn the front.

“He’s got the more favourable draw as he’ll be in front of us and he should improve second-up from the other night.

“It’ll be hard from the draw but if we can get a nice run then he’ll be strong late – I’m always a bit conservative I suppose.”

But Craven said connections should strap themselves in for quite a ride with Gus An Maori.

“He’s got a huge future if he stays sound. He stretches out really nicely.”

Gus An Maori is $1.80 with the TAB, while Aimforthemoon is $3.20.

Alex The Great is $7.50 and on the third line, the Peter Hornsby trained son of Great Success/Zesta winning his heat by 2m at Bendigo for reinswoman Stacey Towers.

Sunofatrump is the fourth pick in the race, at $14 fixed odds, with Gavin Lang to drive for Maiden Gully trainer Paul Campbell.

“It was a very good run last time,” Campbell said.

“He made up plenty of ground (after galloping).

“I’d love to say we could win but I think we’re still probably fighting an uphill battle because we’re probably a bit behind the eight ball compared to some of the others as we’ve had a few little issues with him.”

 

Related News

29 March 2024
Gibson family honoured in more ways than one at Bathurst Carnival
SINCE the inception of the Bathurst Gold Crown in 1987, the Gibson family and their Success Stud have positively contributed to shaping the hugely-successful juvenile carnival. Originally based in Queensland before relocating to the idyllic Young region, the late John Gibson initially operated Success...
29 March 2024
Group 1 mares add star power to Riverina Championships
Four Group 1 winning mares - including two currently considered to be among the nation’s best - will clash in an intriguing battle at the Riverina Championships finals program at Wagga on Sunday. The meeting features two $100,000 finals for four and five year-old pacers - one each for the boys...
29 March 2024
Ford looking for Gold on Good Friday
The combined harness and greyhound meeting on Good Friday night in Hobart is fast becoming a Tassie racing tradition, and it’s back again with eight greyhound races and six harness events making up this year’s 14-race program. Driver Dylan Ford will be out to continue his excellent start...
28 March 2024
New HRV chair Adam Kilgour on challenges, opportunities
Newly appointed Harness Racing Victoria chair Adam Kilgour says his passion for a challenge and the people in racing drives his desire to strengthen the industry. Kilgour was yesterday announced to replace Dale Monteith as the head of the board, on which he has served since 2018, and said he was eager...
28 March 2024
La sun of a gun emerges as Blackbook zeros in on breeding line
La Machane won 20 of her 61 starts and more than $330,000 for connections in Ross and Greg Sugars' care and the mare's making just as big an impression in the breeding barn. Having given us La Puddie ($137,179) and La Captain ($182,020), the Bettors Delight mare has another nice type in Benbullan, who...
Click for more