by Michael Howard
Tabanan broke through for his first victory since 2015 to cap Harness Racing Victoria’s first supplementary race, an initiative to increase racing opportunities.
Monday’s sixth race at Kilmore, the All Day Café Menu @ Trackside Pace, was the first supplementary race to be held, featuring a C3 to C8 class pace for $5000.
The Alison Alford-trained six-year-old, who was classed as a C7 prior to the race, won by a neck from $2.60 favourite Love Ina Chevy (C7) and 3.1m clear of Ymbro Toto (C7).
Pole marker Twoforsixty, a C3, was a close fourth, just 4.8m off the leader, with all eight runners finishing within 16.6m.
Monday marked the beginning of a one-month trial of supplementary races, in which connections who want to enter a Victorian race meeting but don’t believe there is a suitable race can nominate for a supplementary race.
Open to any class or gait, if HRV handicappers believe they can compile a competitive race from nominations received a supplementary race will be included on the race fixture.
HRV CEO David Martin said it was pleasing the format had already created racing opportunities.
“It’s great to see trainers entering into and benefitting from the supplementary races,” Mr Martin said.
“We are keen to run more and if trainers don’t believe there is an appropriate race for their horse at a meeting, then they should nominate for the supplementary race.”
Click here to view the conditions for the supplementary races.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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