Flaming Flutter has picked up from where he left off as a three-year-old. Photo by Picture courtesy Photo 8 Photography
The rich Tontine Series Finals for both pacers and trotters were held at Bray Raceway Ballarat on Friday February 13 with two potential top liners winning their respective races.
South Australian Derby winner of last season Flaming Flutter was ultra impressive in his victory of the C2 & C3 class pacers feature over 2200 metres.
Trained at Bannockburn by Geoff Webster and driven by Greg Sugars, Flaming Flutter a four year old gelded son of Bettors Delight and Twice As Hot raced by former HRV Board member Ron Anderson along with Neil Richmond and Garth Allen (all residents of Geelong), settled three back in the running line from the extreme draw, before moving forward three wide approaching the bell to park outside the pacemaker Manuka Man (gate two).
Applying plenty of pressure to the leader prior to the final bend, Flaming Flutter in quarters of 31, 30, 29.2 and 26.8 proved too strong at the finish for Manuka Man in a mile rate of 1-57, with the heavily supported Glenferrie EJ (one/one at bell after leading up the outside division from gate four) third.
Exciting Kiwi bred four year old Monarchy/Sunny Gem gelding Unico Crown snared the major prize in the 2710 metre Trotters Final for T0 or better class after going through the series undefeated.
Bounding straight to the front from the pole which was actually the 10 metre mark, Unico Crown trained by Dean Braun at Lara and driven by stable reinsman Chris Alford, bowled along at his leisure, before kicking clear on the home turn, scoring by 5.4 metres over last season’s Breeders Crown victor Quite A Moment off a three wide trail last lap from mid-field in the moving line, Second elect Glenferrie Tycoon finished a meritorious third 4 metres away after racing in the open.
Raced by Tasmanian Todd Struthers, Unico Crown which has impeccable manners, returned a mile rate of 2-02, with quarters of 30.3, 29.9, 29.5 and 28.8 for the last mile.
Another highlight of the evening was the $20,000 A J Prendergast Memorial Oaks Trial for Fillies over 2200 metres, which saw local trainer Emma Stewart provide four of the five placegetters, the victor being last season’s Breeders Crown winner Whereibylong.
Driven by Gavin Lang, Whereibylong (gate four) possied outside stablemate Our Petite Soeur (gate two), before striding clear hitting the back straight on the first occasion.
Always in control, Whereibylong wasn’t pushed out to defeat David Aiken’s Quick Draft which raced outside her in a mile rate of 1-56.8 (last half 54.6 – quarter 27), with Punch Line (one/one – three wide home turn) third ahead of Bettors Package from last and Our Petite Soeur.
