Group one racing always excites any equine enthusiast and with the Melbourne spring thoroughbred carnival in full swing one can often forget that harness racing Group 1 is just as exiting.
At Albion Park on Saturday night it was Group 1 racing at its thrilling best, with the running of the $100,000 Hurrikane Kingcole Gold Coast Cup and it was taken out by former top class juvenile Bling It On ($26.50) and defeated the Emma Stewart trained Philadelphia Man ($2.10 fav) and Our Hi Jinx ($12.50) thanks to a brilliant drive by Luke McCarthy .
McCarthy’s drive was a classic, finding the back of Philadelphia Man soon after the start and remained in that position before letting the son of American Ideal loose at the top of the straight to wear down Philadelphia Man near the line.
Bling It On lowered the track record recording 1;52.4 over the 2138 metres taking 1.6 seconds of the previous record that of Avonnova at 1;54.
James Rattray on Modern Ruler, set a blistering early tempo coming out of the gate with a lead time of 34.7, the NSW visitor after setting that sort of pace was a beaten animal in the back straight the final time and it was left to Philadelphia Man and Bling It On to come away to fight out Group 1 glory.
Bling It On is fast become a Albion Park specialist, the entire has now won 10 from 14 at the Creek including three at Group1 level.
More Group 1 glory was on offer to the square gaiters in the $50,000 Statewide Group Darrell Alexander Memorial Trotting Championship Final.
My Valerie trained by Blake Fitzpatrick trained and driven by Pete McMullen scored from the heavily backed Cyclone Lucky Seven ($1.90 favourite) and Ivanov ($71.30).
For McMullen it was his first Group1 success. The young star driver finished last season with 172 winners in Queensland plus he claimed the inaugural Australian Drivers Championships held in South Australia late last year.
My Valerie by victory in the Statewide Group Darrell Alexander Memorial Trotting Championship Final gains the daughter of Majestic Son automatic entry into the $300,000 Great Southern Star series at TABCORP Park, Melton on March 12.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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