The curtain was drawn on a glorious Breeders Crown series at Ballarat on Wednesday night, when the silver races shared the wealth with six Group 3 races.
The first race brought the first big breakthrough when Kheiron won for trainer P. Lane and driver Chris Alford, breaking the gelding’s maiden status on his last night as a two-year-old.
“(I’m) absolutely delighted, it is his first career win on the last day of the season,” Lane said.
The win was very personal for the Kilmore trainer, carrying not only the $20,000 purse and the Aldebaran Park Breeders Crown two-year-old silver trot rug, but having also been captured by the horse that he owns and bred with his wife, Anita Burke.
“(Kheiron)’s been up since March and in fact was going to go out and not work as a two-year-old but he worked pretty good a couple of times about three or four months ago,” Lane said. “We were lucky enough to get a couple of placings and tonight is special. We get a smile with any win, but that’s a really good win for us.”
The win also scored a valuable victory for Chris Alford in the SBG Accountants Metropolitan Drivers’ Premiership, pressing him one ahead of Gavin Lang and ultimately securing him the drivers’ crown.
“I thought (Chris) drove an outstanding race,” Lane said. “This is not a horse that can come out of the gate and he came out well and he settled and found the front, sat up and ran home well. “
Tamborine trainer-driver Grant Dixon had a night to remember, winning two on the trot, the first after surviving a lengthy protest.
Frankie Rocks pipped Hot To Rock by a neck in the IRT Breeders Crown Series silver pace for three-year-old colts and geldings, with Dixon surviving Josh Aiken’s second against first protest.
The protest meant Dixon was late getting to the track for the delayed race to follow, the Woodlands Stud Breeders Crown silver pace for three-year-old fillies, but it proved no obstacle as he drove the favourite to a 4.1m victory.
Cherish The Moment sat behind second favourite and leader Jilliby Jitterbug and when they hit the final straight it was Dixon’s Mach Three filly finishing the best, winning ahead of second-placed All In Your Hands.
Victory was also enjoyed by trainer Craig Demmler and driver Jodi Quinlan, who steered Glenferrie Blade to a 1.7m win in the Nevele R Stud Breeders Crown Championship silver pace for four-year-olds.
The mare emerged from cover before the final straight and held off Looks Like Heaven and Keayang Torah to win.
“She’s been racing really well and probably stiff not to get a start in the final. She probably deserved one and she’s shown tonight she is superior,” Quinlan said. “She’ll go for a break now and come back as a five-year-old and hopefully she can take the next step to open class mares.”
Variance brought delight for veteran reinsman and trainer David Murphy, whose Ambro Variable gelding won the Haras Des Trotteurs Breeders Crown three-year-old silver trot by 3.9m ahead of Brent Lilley pair Kyvalley Topcat and Kyvalley Tinman.
“I haven’t been playing in the big races for the last few years, so a Group 3 is always good and to get the job done right on the deathknock of the season is really good,” Murphy said.
A little love was then spread interstate in the final two races of the night.
Lynniemach won the Alabara Breeders Crown two-year-old fillies silver pace for Tasmania trainer Paul Ashwood.
And then Bettor Be Gold won the last race of the season, the Woodlands Stud Breeders Crown silver pace for two-year-old colts and geldings, for New South Wales trainer-driver John McCarthy.
The night also featured the Flying Horse Bistro Pacers Handicap, the last pacing standing start to be run in Victoria, and it was Glenn Douglas’ Bernie Winkle who overcame a fall at the initial false start to win by 5.5m.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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