11 January 2018 | Trots Media – Cody Winnell
Franco Nelson and Yayas Hot Spot will spearhead the Victorian TAB.com.au Summer of Glory raid by New South Wales trainers Shane and Lauren Tritton.
The pair will target the $500,000 Del-Re National A.G. Hunter Cup on February 3, a race in which Yayas Hot Spot finished runner-up to Bling It On last year.
“Yaya has come through the Perth trip extremely well and will line up for another crack at the Hunter Cup to go one better,” Shane Tritton said.
In Perth last month, Yayas Hot Spot ran second in a Bunbury Inter Dominion heat behind Galactic Star and defeated Lennytheshark. He went on to run seventh in the Inter Dominion Consolation.
Franco Nelson, a $743,093 stakemoney winner with 18 wins from 65 starts, hasn’t raced since May last year when second to Heaven Rocks in New Zealand.
He recently won a Menangle trial. “Nelson will look at the Goulburn Cup and then the Hunter Cup if he comes through that well,” Tritton said.
Of note, the Goulburn Cup path is the exact journey trekked by Yayas Hot Spot before his runner-up effort in last year’s Hunter Cup.
Meanwhile, Tritton said precocious three-year-old Divine State was potentially a VHRSC Victoria Derby contender, however the son of Tintin In America is no guarantee to make the trip.
This year’s TAB.com.au Summer of Glory will feature the inaugural Summer of Glory Breakfast with the Stars on Wednesday January 31, which will follow the annual Caduceus Club Del-Re National A.G. Hunter Cup Official Barrier Draw the night before at the MCG Members Dining Room on Level 2 (Ted Webster taking bookings on 0417 327 636).
Details for the Summer of Glory Breakfast will be announced next week.
This Saturday night features the Neatline Homes Shepparton Gold Cup and Summer of Glory contenders San Carlo, Moonrock and Major Secret will lock horns.
In South Australia the annual Group 1 SA Cup will feature gun Victorian Shadow Sax on Saturday night, along with fellow Victorians Messini, Sams The Master, Tee Cee Bee Macray and recent former Victorian Major Crocker.
Then on Sunday the weekend Victorian country cups’ double-header heads south-west to Hamilton for the Matthews Petroleum Hamilton Pacing Cup featuring Keayang Kallisto, Bad Billy, It Is Billy and returning top-line mare Berisari.
The summer spotlight shines on Ballarat next Saturday night when the big guns step out in the $100,000 PETstock Ballarat Pacing Cup at Bray Raceway.
Heats of the VHRSC Victoria Derby and the Group 2 E.B. Cochran Trotters Cup will make for an action-packed night.
Then, seven days later, the Tabcorp Park Melton fireworks sparkle as we launch the 2018 TAB.com.au Summer of Glory with the $300,000 Pryde’s EasiFeed Great Southern Star the highlight on a night of stars.
The Group 1 $200,000 VHRSC Victoria Derby Final, $100,000 4YO Bonanza, $100,000 Alabar Ladyship Cup, $50,000 Group 2 Casey Classic and $30,000 Empire Stallions Vicbred Platinum Trotting Mares Sprint Championship Final will all be contested.
Visit www.summerofglory.com.au for more information.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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