Yucatchim broke a 12 month losing streak to claim the Boort Pacing Cup on Sunday afternoon
The Manangatang Marvel is now the Bell Cow of Boort after veteran performer Yucatchim claimed the Loddon Valley Stud Boort Pacing Cup on Sunday afternoon.
Seven years after staging its last race meet, Australia’s oldest surviving harness club hosted a Cup card brimming with anticipation and nostalgia.
But rather than welcome a new era by crowning a rising star of the sport, the Central Victorian club rewarded a nine-year-old stalwart for perseverance and longevity.
Indeed, it would be a case of third time lucky for Bill Carroll’s one-town pacer after Yucatchim had run fifth and third in the 2009 and 2011 editions of Boort’s flagship feature.
Stepping safely from his ideal front line draw (2) Carroll’s son of Kinney Hanover lobbed a beautiful spot in transit trailing Amadmancomesundone from soon after the start.
Sitting pretty in a lead time of 82.4 and first half fractions of 32.8 and 20.4 seconds respectively, Yucatchim’s biggest risk was being outsprinted in a frenetic final stanza.
But with Amadmancomesundone softened up by Thats Mister Ali in a penultimate section of 27.5, Yucatchim – whose previous win was more than 12 months ago – looked the one to beat in the lane.
Sprinting like a horse half his age, the pacer dubbed the Manangatang Marvel by Victorian racecaller Craig Rail was fittingly called home by that very man to claim the biggest success of his 136-start career.
Rattling home in a final fraction of 29.3 to complete a 2:04.7 mile rate, Yucatchim vanquished Amadmancomesundone by 1.3m with fellow veteran No Encore almost 13m astern in third.
Earlier in the day, eight-year-old Classic Adam gelding Gazoline ensured it was a trying day for punters by winning the Doyles Boomspraying Boort Trotters Cup in narrow but impressive fashion.
Leading throughout, Peter Rothacker’s genuine squaregaiter rated 2:07.3 to claim his third win this term at $26.60 on the local TAB.
