Gooday Stride and Grace Bilney will be among final participants.
An outstanding group of retired standardbreds will assemble at Bendigo this Sunday for a best of the best showdown in the inaugural Alabar HERO Series Final.
No less than 26 horses have accepted invitations to compete in the rich decider, after qualifying on the Victorian Agricultural Show (VAS) Circuit during 2016.
The ground-breaking series represents an exciting partnership between Harness Racing Victoria’s Harness Education & Rehoming Opportunities (HERO) Program and VAS Ltd, and has delivered unprecedented showing opportunities for off-the-track standardbreds
All freeze-branded horses bred for harness racing were eligible to compete, however, there was no requirement to have been officially named, trialled or raced.
“The response to the Alabar HERO Series in the first year far exceeded expectations,” HERO Program Manager Tanya McDermott said.
“We were entirely overwhelmed by the number of agricultural societies who came on board and scheduled qualifiers.
“When you consider that not too many years ago, it was the exception rather than the rule to see standardbred show classes programmed, the level of interest was just phenomenal.
“As late as November we were still receiving inquiries from shows which were interested in being a part of the 2016 series and a number of early qualifiers for the new season have already been locked in,” she revealed.
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the series, however, was the interest it generated among pleasure standardbred enthusiasts and indeed, the broader showing community.
“We were over the moon about the numbers which competed in the first year, and the friendly rivalry that the series generated.
“From one end of the state to the other, and even across the closest borders, people were not only talking about the event, but specifically targeting horses to participate.
“I have even had several highly-respected show stables hint that they are interested in securing a standardbred with a view to being a part of the championship in the future, which is just brilliant.”
The finalists come from a cross section of backgrounds and include everything from pacers boasting a 1:53 career mark to horses which were never officially named for racing due either to injury or lack of ability.
The highest profile qualifiers include MF Hollywood, who created history when became the first standardbred to contest the Garryowen in 2014, and Liberty Valence, who has enjoyed outstanding success in both breed and open classes in recent seasons.
The premier racetrack performers were Heza Prince, a winner of $183,000 in prizemoney from 23 races, and Gooday Stride, who won 13 races and $125,000.
Curiously, the vast majority of first season qualifiers are pacing bred.
The Alabar HERO Series was made possible by the financial support of Harness Racing Victoria and the State Government via the Victorian Racing Industry Fund.
The Southern Hemisphere’s leading standardbred breeding operation, Alabar Bloodstock, secured naming rights sponsorship of the event, further cementing its outstanding commitment to life after racing.
The final offers $1000 in prize money to the overall winner and $500 for the best newcomer, making it Victoria’s richest life-after-racing standardbred competition .
The Standardbred Pleasure and Performance Horse Association of Victoria and Kieffer Australia have lent their support as associate sponsors while Skye Park has provided a presentation rug for the winner.
To be staged at Bendigo’s Prince of Wales Showgrounds in association with the time-honoured Victorian Saddle Horse Championships, the three-person judging panel for Sunday’s final will be led by Rebecca Cartwright, who has many years of showing and competition experience, in addition to an extensive hands-on involvement in the trotting industry.
Alabar HERO Series Finalists
Village Man - (rider) Glenys Grivell
MF Hollywood - Jess Laughlin
Uni Mist - Isabella Cornfoot
Starclass Falcon - Rachel Stephenson
Gooday Stride - Grace Bilney
Paragon Minda - Rebecca Farran
Wally Bunter - Caitlin Guppy
Heza Prince - Maddie Delai
Glen Ayre Prince - Lauren Kumashev
Nardoo Sam - Stacey Barker
Lochlee Simpson - Jackie Barker
Liberty Valence - Claire Hawkey
Choppers Brother - Stacey Timms
Ochil Hills - Cheryl Kick
Zinzan - Cassandra Troon
Casino Evil - Connie Turner
Sunny Time - Roxann Buscemi Le Brun
Kimba - Michelle Drayton
Sir Scout'n About - Steph Gibson
Born Wild - Belinda Pechotsch
Maxwell Smart - Eboni Knights
Ballum Park Royal Maverick - Amy Pilgrim
Operative Princess - Stace Towers
Dribbles - Deb Thomson
Rock Paper Scissors - Loren Stemmer
Simply Immy - Stacey Tolley
