Twelve months is a long time in racing circles.
But it’s just enough time to exact revenge.
Beaten narrowly last year, talented trotter Glenferrie Typhoon made amends tonight (Saturday) and squared the ledger with star New Zealander Speeding Spur while the classy Sunny Ruby finished gamely filling third place in the Gr.1 $300,000 Pryde’s Easifeed Great Southern Star at TABCORP Park, Melton.
And he did it in brilliant fashion, leaving his rivals with no excuses.
Glenferrie Typhoon prepared by leading trainer Andy Gath and handled by his wife Kate, became the first locally trained trotter to win the country’s richest trotting feature.
First staged in 2013, the spoils of the Great Southern Star have always found their way across the ditch to New Zealand but tonight, the celebration would start and finish on home territory.
Using the coveted inside gate to perfection, the Majestic Son gelding possessed enough speed to lead before handing out a trotting lesson during the 2760m mobile start marathon.
The lead time was covered in 84.4 seconds.
Glenferrie Typhoon moved along at a genuine speed although over-racing at various points, Gath kept her trotter in good balance and rhythm while moves kept coming from back in the field.
The first half of the last mile was covered in 28.9 and 32.7 seconds.
With a lap remaining, driver Josh Dickie aboard race favourite Speeding Spur was able to loop the field three-wide before dropping onto the back of Glenferrie Typhoon.
The pressure intensified down the back straight the final time but Glenferrie Typhoon traveled strongly while Speeding Spur sat coiled and ready to strike in the pocket.
The third quarter was covered in 29.1 seconds.
Approaching the home turn, Glenferrie Typhoon and Speeding Spur broke away from their rivals and an epic home stretch battle ensued.
Glenferrie Typhoon failed to relent while Speeding Spur chased determinedly but as they hit the finish line; it was Glenferrie Typhoon proving triumphant by a half neck margin while Sunny Ruby was a further 9m away in third.
The last quarter was timed in 28.7 seconds.
The overall time was 3:23.8 and gave the winner a mile rate of 1:58.8 – easily eclipsing the previous track record.
“It’s such a huge thrill to win a race like this and on such a big night, he had the right draw but he still had to do it.” Trainer Andy Gath said.
“He’s a special horse given what he’s been through over the past twelve months; it speaks volumes for his will to win although he’s given me a few headaches in recent times.” He added.
Soon after competing in this event last year, it was discovered he was suffering from a bladder stone.
Glenferrie Typhoon joins Monbet as winners of the Australian Pacing Gold Trotting Masters series after the kiwi star won the opening leg back in November, the Gr.1 $265,000 Dominion at Addington.
The next leg of the APG Trotting Masters takes place at Melton, the Gr.1 $100,000 Seelite Windows & Doors Australian Trotting Grand Prix on March 11.
