Victory in the Gr.1 $145,000 Canam Rowe Cup only solidified the position of Stent as one of the all-time great trotters in the modern era.
The 3200m stand-start feature at Alexandra Park, Auckland capped another remarkable season for the Dream Vacation – Belle Galleon gelding in which he has been crowned the Australian Pacing Gold Trotting Master for the second straight season.
As good as he was last season, Stent was even better this term.
Prepared by Colin and Julie DeFilippi, Stent has won 13 of his 18 starts this season while collecting more than $600,000 in stakes.
His earnings have now soared past $1 million with the promise of plenty more to come.
During the year, Stent has won 7 Group 1 events including the Rowe Cup, New Zealand Trotting Championship, heat & final of the Great Southern Star, Australian Trotting Grand Prix, Knight Pistol and the New Zealand Trotting FFA.
He also claimed two Group 2 and three Group 3 features.
Stent also went unbeaten during his five start Australian campaign.
Heading into the Rowe Cup, DeFilippi had reservations about the stand-start following his recent racing being staged behind the mobile but his fears disappeared quickly when the start trotter made a flyer.
After leading initially, DeFilippi then handed over to defending champion Master Lavros, Stent travelled kindly in the trail before unleashing his trademark paralyzing sprint via the passing lane to edge out a game Master Lavros by a head margin with a further 2.75 lengths back to Alley Way in third.
The overall time was a new race record at 4;03.6 – a mile rate of 2;02.4.
The five leg Trotting Masters series comprises of the Hellers Dominion, Seelite Windows & Doors Australian Trotting Grand Prix, Pryde’s Easifeeds Great Southern Star, ANZAC Trotters Cup and the Canam Rowe Cup.
Stent competed in all five legs during the season and amassed 365 points, his nearest rival was Sheemon with 168 points.
The top five point scorers on the Australian Pacing Gold Trotting Masters this season were;
Stent (365 points)
Sheemon (168)
Master Lavros (101)
Jaccka Justy (100)
Keystone Del (64)
Stent now joins Sundons Gift, One Over Kenny and Take A Moment as dual Trotting Master champions.
Only the incomparable Lyell Creek has claimed three Trotting Master titles.
Here’s a quick recap of the season;
The opening leg of the Australian Pacing Gold Trotting Master series was staged IN Christchurch at Addington during Cup week and the $NZ255,000 Hellers Dominion Handicap was taken out by Jaccka Justy for co-trainers Jonny Cox and Amber Hoffman.
The Continentalman gelding proved too good for Sheemon and Kincaslough.
The 3200m stand-start feature was covered in a time of 4;05.2
Action then headed to Melbourne for the next two legs and Stent dominated; he claimed back to back victories in the $100,000 Seelite Windows & Doors Australian Grand Prix defeating Keystone Del and Realmein.
Stent recorded a time of 1;59.0 for the 2240m mobile start feature.
In the $300,000 Pryde’s Easifeeds Great Southern Star, Stent made a clean sweep of the 1720 mobile start feature.
The heat/final series is conducted on the same night at TABCORP Park, Melton.
In the final, Stent defeated Vincennes and Flying Isa in a time of 1;57.1.
The final two legs of the series were staged in Auckland at Alexandra Park and the $NZ100,000 ANZAC Cup was taken out by the Kevin Townley trained and Dexter Dunn driven Sheemon.
The Monarchy gelding proved too good for Stent and Master Lavros.
The 2200m mobile start feature was covered in a race record time of 1;58.8.
And the $NZ145,000 Canam Rowe Cup ended the season with Stent claiming the North Island’s major trotting event defeating Master Lavros and Alley Way.
It was another wonderful season but Stent is the Australian Pacing Gold Trotting Master, congratulations to Colin and Julie DeFilippi and owner Trevor Casey.
