VICT TROTTERS DERBY TAKING SHAPE
This year’s Seelite Windows and Doors Victoria Trotters Derby will take further shape on Wednesday night, July 7, when the second heat is run at Geelong.
The $10,000 event showcases the Australian debut of high-profile Kiwi blueblood Miami H, who crosses the Tasman a winner of five of 12 starts, the latest a Tabcorp Australasian Breeders Crown heat at Auckland on June 22.
The Derek Balle-trained colt, a son of boom stallion Muscles Yankee and former gun mare Martina H, is a leading contender for the $75,000 Group 1 final, but will be tested by some talented locals in his heat.
Waiting for him will be last-start South Australian Trotters Derby and defending Breeders Crown champion Tuhimata Glass and Victorian-based New South Wales Trotters Derby winner Backas Cobber.
Miami H got an edge over his key rivals at the draw, coming up with gate four. Tuhimata Glass is alongside in five, but Backas Cobber has it all to do from barrier 12 on account of being out of the draw.
One interested onlooker when the 2570-metre race is run at 11pm (NZ time) will be Mark Jones, trainer of another Kiwi visitor, Kahdon.
The daughter of Sundon had Miami H’s measure in the May’s Northern Trotting Derby and entered the Victoria Trotters Derby series nominal favourite for the final.
But her quest for the big Derby double didn’t get off to the best start at Bendigo last Saturday night when she was beaten in the first heat.
Kahdon had a nice run in front after holding the lead from gate one, but couldn’t withstand the powerful sprint-lane burst of the Ross Graham-trained Rostevarren.
Despite being run down in a 2:04.7 mile rate, Jones was happy with the run – Kahdon’s first since demolishing her rivals Victoria Trotters Oaks on June 11 – and hasn’t lost faith in his star charge.
“Reverse the roles and you probably reverse the result, but she had a nice run and she had her chance,” Jones said.
“She’d had an easy time of things since the Oaks and she was always going to improve on the run.”
The first four home in Wednesday’s night’s heat will join Saturday night’s first four placegetters – Rostevarren, Kahdon, My High Expectations and Cameos Moment – in the final at Maryborough on Sunday, July 18.
The remainder of the field will be made up on the first four home in the final heat, which will be run at Cranbourne this Saturday night.
Courtesy of Brad Bishop, HRV Media Manager