Trotting Master; Sparkling Success is the 2017/18 APG Trotting Master Photo by Stuart McCormick
The Aussie's have finally pegged one back on their Trans Tasman rivals.
And the number now sits at three.
That’s how many Australian bred trotters have been crowned the Australian Pacing Gold Trotting Master since the series was first introduced back in the 1999/2000 season.
Champion mare La Coocaracha became the first back in 2002 while A Touch Of Flair took the title in 2007.
A Touch Of Flair split the title with One Over Kenny, the only time the series has had a dead heat result.
But the latest name added to the roll of honour is Sparkling Success; the Victorian trained trotter prevailed from New Zealand star Lemond and Monty Python.
The John Meade trained Great Success gelding captured the Gr.1 $300,000 Prydes Easifeed Great Southern Star while also being the runner-up in the Gr.1 Seelite Windows & Doors Australian Grand Prix.
Both events were staged at TABCORP Park, Melton.
But connections had to sit and wait before being crowned the Trotting Master after bypassing the final two legs of the series, the Anzac and Rowe Cups at Alexandra Park, Auckland.
The title to be crowned the Trotting Master was going right down to the wire.
Victories were split between Lemond and Speeding Spur and that was enough to land the title for the emerging Australian talent.
His heroics in his home state features got him over the line in a thrilling season of elite trotting.
In his 11 starts throughout the season, Sparkling Success amassed more than $258,000 while taking his overall earnings past $385,000.
The five leg Australian Pacing Gold Trotting Masters series starts in November with the Dominion in Christchurch before heading to Melbourne for the Great Southern Star and Australian Grand Prix while the series concludes in Auckland with the Anzac and Rowe Cups.
The full list of Australian Pacing Gold Trotting Masters winners for the season were Amaretto Sun (Dominion), Sparkling Success (Great Southern Star), Tornado Valley (Grand Prix), Lemond (Anzac Cup) and Speeding Spur (Rowe Cup).
The top five point scorers were;
Sparkling Success (160 points)
Lemond (120)
Monty Python (110)
Speeding Spur (108)
Temporale (104)
Congratulations to owner/breeder/trainer John Meade and driver Chris Svanosio.
