Arden Rooney at top speed in tonight's Geelong Pacing Cup. Going so fast he blurred this shot!
Arden Rooney will never again start at the $80+ he paid for winning this year’s Hunter Cup. Surely.
The Kerryn Manning trained-and-driven five-year-old made it a trio of cup wins in succession tonight at a rainy Geelong, taking out the Corio Waste Management Geelong Pacing Cup in devastating fashion.
The victory will add another trophy to stand proudly alongside the Hunter Cup and last weekend's Terang Cup in owner Merv Butterworth's trophy cabinet.
Manning wasted no time overcoming the outside-second-row draw in the 2570m event, working to the breeze outside leader Metro Mike early in proceedings aboard the even-money favourite.
They covered the first half of the last mile in 58.5, the middle two splits of the final mile navigated in 57secs.
Arden Rooney broke Metro Mike’s resolve in the finish with a 29.1 final quarter and kicked clear at the top of the home straight, giving nothing else a chance.
National Service – trained and driven by Manning’s husband Grant Campbell – finished second with Chilli Palmer producing an eye-catching run for third.
Arden Rooney broke Smoken Up and Cincinnati Kid’s previous track record with a slick mile rate of 1:57.8 despite the wet conditions.
Metro Mike battled on for fourth and Arber ran a bold fifth just ahead of Villagem.
Arden Rooney is by Bettors Delight out of Tosca Hanover and is raced by the Butterworth Syndicate.
