No doubting Thomas
GREAT Western horsewoman Kerryn Manning and her reinsman fiancé Grant Campbell will be hoping for an early wedding present when they combine with Michael Thomas at Terang tonight.
The celebrated pair will tie the knot on October 13 but before that all their efforts will be directed toward first up success with their talented son of Malabar Maple.
A Tontine Trotters Series finalist in June of last year, Michael Thomas went on to win four of his following six starts and announce himself as a horse of the future.
But after six months off the scene and with a 30m handicap to overcome it will take a big performance to to win race three on the programme this evening.
Harness Racing Victoria form expert Michael Polster believes he’s up to the task, marking him a $1.90 favourite with Earl Of Charity ($6) and Whathappensinvegas ($9) deemed his major dangers.
Renaissance builds
FORMER boom juvenile Renaissance Man continued his comeback on Monday night, claiming his second consecutive trial victory at Melton’s Tabcorp Park.
Andy Gath’s exciting son of Art Major was nominated for the Geelong Rocket on Saturday night but will instead resume in the SEW-Eurodrive Pace at Melton this Friday night.
A convincing trial winner on September 24, Renaissance Man backed that effort up with another dominant performance defeating Toulouse Lautrec earlier this week.
Another impressive trial winner on Monday night was City of Melton Plate nominee Im Barney Rubble.
Unbeaten in six starts Lance Justice’s defeated a crack field from the standing start including Saucy Vision, Saint Flash and multiple Country Cup-winner Heza Trick.
Quinny’s crown
HOMETOWN Inter Dominion winner Im Themightyquinn was formally recognised as Australian Harness Horse of the Year for 2011/12 on Monday afternoon.
Harness Racing Australia confirmed the champion Perth pacer who complemented his ID win with victories in the WA and Fremantle Pacing Cups was our finest standardbred last season.
Other major award winners included Make Mine Cullen, who was named Aged Pacing Mare of the Year and Majestic Mach who was named Two-Year-Old Pacign Colt/Gelding of the Year.
As expected I Can Doosit claimed Australian Trotter of the Year honours but Victoria dominated the other squaregaiting awards.
Miss Warbucks was named Aged Trotting Mare of the Year while Sunset Invasion, Shes an Image, Blitzthemcalder and Spidergirl were also recognised for their outstanding seasons.
Rocket launch
LETS Slash An Burn will need to run the race of his life for back-to-back Geelong Rocket titles this Saturday night after Melpark Major and Jaccka Clive were also nominated for the race.
A brilliant winner of Beckley Park’s premier sprint this time last year, Geoff Webster’s son of Christian Cullen went on to claim the Hamilton Cup in his best season to date.
But with 2008 Victoria Cup champion Melpark Major best suited to short course racing these days and Jaccka Clive a Len Smith Mile placegetter last term, the Rocket should be run at a frenetic pace.
Brilliant beginners Garnet River, In Monaco and Mister Grizzly have also been nominated for the $25,000 speed test along with ex-Queensland stablemates Our White Knight and Jack In Flight.
