by Adam Hamilton
Former Kiwi trotter Tornado Valley upstaged Australia’s best to win the $100,000 Group 1 Australian Trotting Grand Prix (2240m) at Melton on Saturday night.
The upset win as a $12.20 chance didn’t surprise trainer Andy Gath, who has been a fan of Tornado Valley for almost 18 months and finally landed him for the stable.
“He’s one I’d had my eye on for a long time, but it was only recently he came on the market. Tim Butt had first option, but I was thrilled when we got the chance to buy him and snapped him up,” Gath said.
“We’ve had a really good run with trotters like him out of NZ. KD Muscles and Clover Mac are the others lately.
“I thought he’d measure up to the better races, but maybe not as quickly as he has.
“He ran a great race at Cranbourne (in the Knight Pistol) and we decided we’d hold the lead if we could get it this time.”
Gath’s wife, Kate, easily found the lead from gate four and posted $1.50 favourite and Australia’s best trotter Sparkling Success on her outside throughout.
On the home bend Sparkling Success loomed ominously, but Tornado Valley found plenty to win by 1.9m in a slick 1.57.2 mile rate.
“The only big race left this season is the Australasian Trotters’ Championship in May, so we’ll look for a few races between now and then,” Gath said.
“There is the Kilmore Trotters’ Cup next week, but it’s 3150m and mean running a fourth weekend on end, so I’m leaning towards skipping it.”
Tornado Valley is raced by Norm Jenkins of Flashing Red fame.
Sparkling Success tried hard after doing all the work and lost no admirers with a close second.
Champion driver Chris Alford has driven so many great horses, but not many with the quirks of champion young trotter Wobelee.
Despite showing some of his quirks again, Wobelee made it 12 wins on end when he trotted a 1.58.4 mile rate for 1720m to win the $60,000 Group 1 Need For Speed Prince final at Melton.
Trained by Alford’s wife, Alison, Wobelee played-up going onto the track and needed an attendant before the start, but began well enough to lead.
Chris Alford left his rivals standing on the home bend, but the appropriately-named Wobelee lost concentration, switched-off and gave punters a big scare before lifting again to win by 2.8m.
There is some talk of a possible Harness Jewels raid, but you suspect the Alfords will want to have a lot more confidence in Wobelee’s manners and attitude before crossing the ditch.
It all went wrong for brilliant mare Red Hot Tooth in the Great Southern Star, but she’s quickly making up for it.
Kari Males’ five-year-old daughter of Yankee Paco has won all three starts since, two of them in superb fashion at Group 1 level.
She followed her Knight Pistol win at Cranbourne last Saturday with an equally easy Breed For Speed Gold Series final this week.
Zac Phillips extricated Red Hot Tooth from an inside back row draw to whiz around and then take the lead inside 500m and she was never in danger from there.
She cruised to a 6.7m win in a 1.55.8 mile rate.
The force continues to grow.
The Yabby Dams/Anton Golino flexed its ever-increasing muscle to trifecta the Group 3 Breed For Speed final.
Ima Bourbon Girl led throughout to win for Jason Lee from Parisian Amore (Nathan Jack) and Courcheval (John Caldow).
Adding to a big night for the team was Amore De Frere’s all-the-way win in the $60,000 Group 1 Need For Speed Princess final in a 1.58.2 mile rate for 27120m.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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