30 May 2024 | Jordan Gerrans
The team of Shannon Price and Nathan Rothwell saved their absolute best for last at ‘The Triangle’ on Wednesday evening.
After 10 heats in the weeks leading up to Trot Rods’ finale night for 2024 and nine more contested on Wednesday under lights, trainer Peter Greig and driver Leonard Cain would have been feeling fairly confident as the clubhouse leader with just one heat to go.
In the 15th heat, Cain drove Greig’s Feelin Flirty to a 64.38 second victory which set the fastest time over 947 metres at that point in the series.
Feelin Flirty’s performance surpassed stable mate Master Charles who went into the finale night holding the lead time at 64.49 seconds which was set the Wednesday prior.
Despite the Greig barn holding the last two fastest times set in the series, Group 1-winning trainer Price and emerging reinsman Rothwell swooped late to claim the eventual prize.
It was Price’s Hold Onto Ya Bling who stole the show late in the piece, scoring in 63.86 seconds to hand the trainer and driver their first title in the popular short-course series.
“It is very exciting,” Price said.
“We have had two runners before and it is good to finally win one.
“He is a good gate speed horse and he can follow good speed – we sort of set him for this a few weeks ago so it is good to pull it off. It is a great thrill.
“This is the horses third QBRED bonus of $3,000, so it has been a great pay day.”
Young driver Rothwell began from the two position and was comfortable to sit behind the leader Arkin Wicked in the early stages.
Rothwell angled Hold Onto Ya Bling around the leading pair as they approached the home straight and the four-year-old gelding did the rest in the finish.
Hold Onto Ya Bling claiming the series prize in the last of the 20 heats mirrored the inaugural edition of Trot Rods back in 2020.
In the first ever running of the event, driver Paul Diebert and trainer Donny Smith combined as With The Band nabbed the series in a dramatic fashion at Redcliffe Paceway when they also took home the final heat of the night.
Redcliffe Peninsula Harness Racing and Sporting Club President Bernie Ring was delighted with how the 2024 series played out and was full of praise for the training effort of Price.
“It is great to have the top stables here for the series,” Ring said.
“As they say – if you build it they will come.
“Congratulations to all that have participated in this series right from day one through to this finale night.
“And, congratulations to Shannon because we all know the hard work you do with your horses and turn them out in splendid conditions.”
It was a big night in the bike for Rothwell as he drove the winner of the series as well as walking away with a treble for the evening.
After being voted in by harness racing fans to compete on the Trot Rods finale program, the 21-year-old Rothwell most certainly looks like a reinsman on the rise in the Sunshine State.
Champion harness man Grant Dixon also had a massive night at the office – training five winners to collect half the card.
The Price stable walks away with a $10,000 cash bonus and an Otto Tuza three horse float for the quickest lap across the 20 heats.
Price and her staff have travelled across the country and internationally with their horses over the last year – headlined by star Speak The Truth – and she says the new float will most certainly come in handy.
“I was just looking at my three horse float as that travels around Australia with the good horses away,” she said.
“I was thinking we could probably do with a bit of an overhaul.
“So now that we have a new one – they can travel in the new one in style.”
The fastest time ever recorded in Trot Rods came back in 2022 when Just Dessy scorched the track in 63.46 seconds.
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