Sparkling Success has arrived.
He’s well and truly announced himself.
And he did it on the biggest stage possible, dominating his rivals in the Gr.1 $300,000 Pryde’s Easifeed Great Southern Star at TABCORP Park, Melton tonight (Saturday) – the second leg of the 2017/18 Australian Pacing Gold Trotting Masters.
In the biggest and richest square gaiting event staged in the country, the John Meade trained and Chris Svanosio driven trotter proved too classy for his rivals in the 2760m mobile start feature defeating New Zealand raider Temporale and Hey Yo in track record time.
The six-year-old Great Success gelding proved his greatness with a hard fought victory in a time of 1:58.7, eclipsing the previous mark of 1:58.8 set by last year’s victor Glenferrie Typhoon.
Boasting outstanding credentials, punters kept the local star safe in the market before an aggressive Svanosio drive landed the prize.
Vincennes was able to spear to the lead from a wide draw and dictated terms while race favourite Red Hot Tooth was left without cover in the early stages.
Sydney trotter On Thunder Road worked forward and took up the role on the outside of the leader while Sky Petite and Sparkling Success quickly made their moves.
The lead time was covered in 84.2 seconds.
With Vincennes leading, Sparkling Success eventually parked outside with 1400m approximately left to run.
The first half of the final mile was covered in 30.5 and 30.2 seconds.
Entering the back straight, Vincennes led Sparkling Success while The Boss Man, Temporale and Hey Yo gained economical trips against the pylons.
Red Hot Tooth made a solo three-wide move with Daryl Boko tracking the move, both Speeding Spur and My Tribeca sat well back in the field as the tempo quickened.
The third quarter was covered in 28.8 seconds.
At the top of the home straight, Sparkling Success raced clear of Vincennes while The Boss Man, Temporale and Hey Yo all found room to move and loomed as legitimate threats.
But Sparkling Success wouldn’t be denied and held Temporale by 1.2 metres with another 1.7 metres back to Hey Yo in third position.
The final quarter was covered in 29.9 seconds.
Race favourite Red Hot Tooth wilted to finish at the rear of the field.
“This is unbelievable, he won the Maori Mile two starts ago but this race easily tops that, this is the biggest race on the calendar in Australia for trotters.” A jubilant John Meade declared, a dairy farmer from Cudgee in the state’s south-west.
Sparkling Success boasts an outstanding record of 15 wins from 30 starts while his earnings now exceed $360,000.
The next leg of the APG Trotting Masters takes place at Melton with the running of the Gr.1 $100,000 Seelite Windows & Doors Australian Trotting Grand Prix on March 10.
Sparkling Success now joins Dominion winner Amaretto Sun as the leg winners of the 2017/18 APG Trotting Masters to date.
