Arber and Michael Bellman cruise to victory in the Wedderburn Pacing Cup.
The country cups king from two seasons ago was back on his throne today at Wedderburn as Arber reigned in the Graham Jacka Holden Wedderburn Pacing Cup.
A little over a month since the track came alive with Hamish and Andy's Race That Slows The Nation, Wedderburn again felt the thunder of hooves return, this time of the trots variety.
And it was Arber and an Ararat reinsman stealing the show.
Driver Michael Bellman snared a winning treble, his successful steer aboard the pacing cup winner the standout effort.
The win in the 2555-metre feature race was also the first leg of a winning double for Anakie trainer Tim Bolitho, who teamed with Bellman to claim the last race with All Eyes And Ears.
Nine-year-old Arber, by Village Jasper out of Any Danger, held off Smo and Tere T at the finish, breaking the track reecord by 0.4secs a week after his Stawell record mark was bettered by Yankee Rockstar.
Arber showed his customary early dash from behind the tapes to be vying for the lead early before eventually settling for the trail behind pacemaker Loong Nien.
Around the final bend Bellman made his move sweeping around Loong Nien, continuing his momentum up the stretch as Smo darted into second place along the sprint lane.
At the wire Arber had 1.6m to spare over Smo, with Tere T 6.6m off the winner in third and Loong Nien fourth.
Arber has now won 20 races for almost $212,000 in stake money.
Bellman began his treble in Race 2 with victory aboard Sheezawingate.
Inglewood trainer Trevor Ralph and his six-year-old gelding Rumbustious (by Barcardi Lindy out of Perfect Report) took out the Richmond and Associates Wedderburn Trotters Cup, going all the way in the 2555m race from the stand start to defeat Dabbsey and Maorisfavouritesun.
>> Video replays (Arber wins the Wedderburn Pacing Cup & Rumbustious wins the Trotters Cup)
Media enquiries:
CODY WINNELL
COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA MANAGER
HARNESS RACING VICTORIA
PO BOX 184, MOONEE PONDS, VIC 3039
400 EPSOM ROAD, FLEMINGTON, VIC 3031
t: 03 8378 0288 | f: 03 9214 0699 | e: cwinnell@hrv.org.au
www.hrv.org.au
