Star mare Rakero Blaze unleashed a dazzling sprint to snatch victory in the 2025 Pirate Life & CUB Kapunda Trotters Cup (2610m) on Monday.
A noted betting drifter from $1.90 to $3.90, Rakero Blaze, galloped early then came from the tail of the field with an amazing finish.
Trained and driven by SA’s premier trainer-driver Ryan Hryhorec, the six-year-old mare finished so quickly she won by 1-1/2 metres from Flingandwingit ($34) with Phoebe Onyx ($11), a stablemate of the winner a half head away third.
Coming off a 10-metre handicap, Rakero Blaze galloped losing about 20 metres before getting down into a trot.
Hryhorec blamed himself for the mistake.
“In footy parlance, I took my eye off the ball for a fraction of a second and she galloped,” Hryhorec said.
“After that I was happy to catch the body of the field and see what happened.
“The tempo was very quick with Gaita (Pullicino) running along on Phoebe Onyx out in front and I thought the task would be too much, but I did get a trail into the race on the back of My Used To Be.
“Turning for home I thought maybe she could win but her sprint was electric.
“It was an outstanding win. She really does have a brilliant sprint.
“At Gawler last week, she was basically knocked out of the race by another runner so I knew if she did it right would be hard to beat.”
Rakero Blaze rated 2:02.9 to break the Kapunda track record of 2:03.5 set by My Bad Habits in winning the same race in October last year.
The mare is expected to back up in Saturday’s $20,000 Strathalbyn Trotters Cup (2230m) at Globe Derby Park.
“When there is such good prizemoney on offer there is no point staying in your stall.”
Hryhorec is dominating the trotting scene and said he could have up to seven nominations for the Trotters Cup.
Apart from the winner and third placegetter he also had Used To Be A Maid ($2.50 fav) which finished seventh and Aldebaran Dexta ($8) which finished eighth.
Aldebaran Dexta began well at Kapunda and trotted quickly to the front but galloped entering the home straight with two laps to go when looking like he was going to take catching.
Another Hryhorec’s squaregaiters to win was Latrell which took out the Dick & Janet White Memorial Trotters Mobile (2200m).
Latrell ($1.85 fav) found the front early when Can Adel Succeed ($6) handed up and trotted strongly to beat that horse by 6-1/2 metres.
Spotlight ($12) was 3-1/2 metres away third.
Classic Line landed a good betting plunge for Penfield trainer Reece Moore in winning the Barossa Auto Group & Southern Steel Supplies Pace (1800m).
As much as $8 was bet early about Classic Line which ran the $2.80 favourite.
Driven by Wayne Hill, the five-year-old sat outside the leader Beach Hopper ($1.80 out to $3.20) before drawing clear in the home straight to win a half neck from Tembie ($3.10) with the leader fading to third.
Roseworthy husband and wife Toby and Lisa Ryan combined to win the Nutrien AG Solutions Kapunda & Gawler Pace (2200m).
After travelling third on the fence, Ryan managed to angle Alora ($3.60) into the clear turning for home and she sprinted strongly to catch stablemate Lildabldooya ($4.80) and win by 4-1/2 metres with John Vincent ($2.50 fav), 1-1/2 metres away third.
Alora rated 1:58.9 to break the track record set by Adori back in March 2000.
