Keystone Del (outside) digs deep to reel in Maori Time in the shadows of the post
While the next edition of the Pryde’s Easifeed Great Southern Star might be seven months away, the feature trot at Tabcorp Park tonight (14 August) offered many references to the most lucrative squaregaiting contest in the Southern Hemisphere.
The race was named in honour of inaugural Great Southern Star winner Vulcan; over the sprint 1720m Great Southern Star trip; with 2014 GSS winner Keystone Del using every inch of the Melton straight to overhaul public elect Maori Time.
Keystone Del, in just his second run since finishing seventh behind Stent in the 2015 Great Southern Star, looked under pressure over the final 400m due to a solid pace set by leader Maori Time. However champion reinsman Chris Alford was able to urge the star gelding past Maori Time in the shadows of the post and set a new track record of 1:54.5.
Earlier in the night, Shepparton Cup winner and Hunter Cup runner-up Franco Ledger upstaged his slightly more fancied stablemate Flaming Flutter in taking out the co-feature Minuteman Free For All. The David Aiken trained and driven Cold Major led for much of the race and split the Webster pair at the finish.
Four-year-old mares dominated the other races on the program, with short-priced favourite Whereibylong winning her fifteenth race at start number 24, trotting mare Nica Macdonon breaking through after a run of good form and smart Tassie pacer Barynya leading all the way to win her eleventh race of the season in smart time.
