Port Pirie harness racing trainers, brothers Ryan and Trent Hoare, are excited about the future with their talented three-year-old filly Harro Hill.
An $11 chance, Harro Hill was given a perfect drive by Lisa Ryan before dashing clear for a five-metre win in the O’Brien’s Meat Pace (1800m) from Tonkawaikon ($4.80) with Resurrects ($6), 6-1/2 metres away third.
Trent Hoare said the filly was still immature but showed with her back-to-back wins that she had talent.
“We are tinkering with her gear, and keeping her happy, to gain consistency in her performances and fingers crossed we are on the right track,” he said.
“I thought she was a strong winner at Port Pirie on Tuesday and gave her a chance at Globe Derby Park despite her back row draw.
“Lisa (Ryan) got her away very well and was able to take a spot midfield in the running line and the filly sprinted brilliantly to win well.”
Hoare said it was a team effort to prepare their team of horses.
The brothers have the burgeoning Pirie Signs & Designs in Port Pirie, working around the state to grow the business.
“Ryan and I do what we can in the mornings before going to work so we are very grateful to Dad (Mark) and a group of friends to make sure all the harness work is completed.
“Dad has really stepped up but thankfully he will get more support with my father-in-law moving to Pirie in the coming weeks.”
Cups-winning pacer Maharajah shocked everyone with his powerful win in the time-honoured Ladbrokes Minor Derby Free-For-All (2230m) at Globe Derby Park on Saturday.
Even his most ardent supporter, part-owner-trainer Heather Stevens, admitted she took him to the races “just hoping” for a win.
“His recent form had not been too bad but after Monday, when he finished last, my confidence levels dropped,” Stevens said.
“In hindsight, we drove him for speed out of the gate on Monday, and he just doesn’t like to race that way.”
A $41 chance, Maharajah revived memories of his glory days in the Minor Derby FFA, sweeping around the field under driving by Wayne Hill, to grab a three-metre win from Lord Zarias ($2.80) with Delightful Major ($3.90), a metre away third.
It was an extreme turnaround as Lord Zarias had beaten Maharajah by 19.4 metres on the Monday.
Five days later, driven back in the field behind a solid tempo, Maharajah gave everyone a reminder of his ability sprinting strongly to win.
A winner of the Strathalbyn Cup (2022) and Port Pirie Cup (2023) in his younger days, the now seven-year-old gave glimpses of his talent with the Globe Derby Park win.
Stevens said part-owner Gary McGinty, a farmer from Apsley in Victoria, had been losing a bit of patience with Maharajah.
“Gary felt maybe it was time to move him on and give someone else a chance, but I felt he had been so good for us I couldn’t part with him,” she said.
“As he has got older he has developed a few niggles which has caused him to lose a metre or two, but he has been running okay. Tonight was a very pleasant surprise.”
Reinsman Wayne Hill, who bought up his 11th win on Maharajah, was another losing a bit of faith.
“After Monday I was wondering whether he would ever get back to his best,” Hill said.
“Tonight, with a good speed, he was travelling well but when I pulled him three wide coming off the back I wondered whether I should be doing it and would he make ground.
“But he sprinted really well, and with the leaders getting tired, he was able to get some momentum and race to victory.”
Lord Zarias had trailed the leader Delightful Major and used the sprint lane to dash through but could not match the home straight burst of the winner.
Maharajah’s win brought up a double for Hill who earlier in the night steered Offyarocker Crocker to victory in the Hygain Pace (2230m) for his wife Samantha Hill.
It was the first joint win for the pair since their marriage last month.
Samantha Hill said she believed Offyarocker Crocker could go through the classes in South Australia after coming down from Queensland.
“He raced at Penrith on Monday, November 11 and arrived at my stables on Thursday, three days later” Hill said.
“He came fit, but I had to trial him to qualify him to race, and he went quite nicely.”
Offyarocker Crocker ($5.50) settled well back in the field nine from his gate seven draw but started to make ground from the 600-metre mark.
The five-year-old swept to the lead on straightening and drew clear to win by 12 metres from Trailblazer ($1.75 fav) which had led up, with Martys Party ($9), 13-1/2 metres away third.
Victorian trainer Tyrone Abela had a “magical win” with Distant Sun in the Listed 2024 Ladbrokes South Australian Trotters Derby (2230m).
Abela saluted the heavens with the win in tribute to his father Joe, who passed away several years ago.
“Dad loved South Australia and had many good friends here, and was always looking to make a trip across,” Abela said.
“We bought the trotter Solar Active across in 2009 and he ran third in the Trotters Cup to Gammel Dansk.
“A year later we came back, and Solar Active won, and Dad said that is one tick off the bucket list.
“His other wish was to win the Trotters Derby, so it was very special to do it for him.”
Distant Sun ($1.80 fav) led up but looked in trouble on the home turn with Bishop George ($4.20) and looking to be going better.
But under hard driving from Gaita Pullicino, the gelding lifted and drew clear to win by three metres from Can Adel Succeed ($6) with Bishop George a fading third, two metres away.
“It was great to have Gaita in the sulky to make it a fairytale win,” Abela said.
“The Maltese community is very tight knit in Victoria and Dad was very close to Gaita and her family, so it was a perfect result.”
Top trainer-driver Ryan Hryhorec continued his excellent run with a double.
Sky Fawkes ($1.45 fav) was a last-stride winner of the Santa at Globe December 21 Pace (1800m) beating American Boxer ($14) by a short half head with Budding Ceasar ($17), three metres away third.
Hryhorec then scored an all-the-way win on Rakero Blaze ($1.40 fav) in the Fast As The Wind USA @ Wingate Farm Trotters Handicap (2230m).
He trained five of the six runners in the trot, and they filled the first five placings.
Regal Attire ($5.50) finished second, beaten 3-1/2 metres, with Aldebaran Dexta ($12) three metres away third.
Story Graham Fischer
Photo: Walter Bulyga
