Cover Of Darkness ready to set the record straight

After being humbled for just the second time in his career back in mid-June, brilliant squaregaiter Cover Of Darkness is back and ready to set the record straight this Saturday night.

The Emma Stewart-trained four-year-old was run down by Sleepee in the Woodlands Stud Noopy Kiosk Trotters Free For All on June 19, with his only other defeat coming when he galloped out of contention in the Vicbred Super Series 3YO Colts and Geldings Final on December 31 last year.

Allan McDonough, who works for Tonkin Stewart Racing and drove the horse in a recent trial at Tabcorp Park Melton, said the horse had battled a “slight foot issue” in recent times.

He was an eye-catching second in that hit-out – held under standing start conditions – and despite a suggestion that he might trial again before racing, has been entered for this weekend’s Garrards Maori’s Idol Trotters Free For All.

The Group 3 contest is among the highlights of the Kilmore meeting, which has been transferred there from Melton.

A quality field of open class trotters has been assembled for the $24,000 event, including Andy Gath-trained Majestuoso, who returned from a spell with victory in the Wagon Apollo Trotters Free For All on July 17.

There’s Group 1 racing on the Kilmore card, with Australasian Premier Trotting Sale finals for the three-year-olds. Heats were planned last week at Melton, but were abandoned when the meeting was cancelled due to a positive COVID-19 case within the industry.

Horses that were set to compete in the heats have automatically progressed to finals for both colts and geldings and fillies divisions. Both races are worth $50,000.

Vicbred Super Series 2YO Trotting Colts and Geldings third place-getter Aldebaran Zeus (Brent Lilley) is one of the fancied runners in the clash for the boys, while Group 1 winner Banglez (Emma Stewart) and 2021 NSW Trotters Oaks champion Aldebaran Ursula (Kerryann Morris) are key hopes in the battle between the girls.

Among the other highlights on the 11-race card is the Hylands My Lightning Blue Free For All, which will see the return of Margaret Lee’s exciting Jilliby Chevy and Matthew Craven-trained Shadow Sax, who was retired from a race at Bendigo back in early July.

Jason Bonnington and Nikkita Ross will team up with caller Dan Mielicki for wall-to-wall Trots Vision coverage of the meeting, which will be live and free via thetrots.com.au.

CLICK HERE FOR FIELDS OF SATURDAY NIGHT’S KILMORE MEETING

THE WEEK AHEAD

TUESDAY

Terang (night)

Caller: Luke Humphreys

WEDNESDAY

Ballarat (night)

Caller: Dan Mielicki

THURSDAY

Cobram (day)

Caller: Dan Hibberd

Kilmore (night)

Caller: Brendan Delaney

FRIDAY

Mildura (day)

Caller: Luke Humphreys

Bendigo (night)

Caller: Lachlan McIntosh

SATURDAY

Kilmore (night)

Caller: Dan Mielicki

SUNDAY

Cranbourne (twilight)

Caller: Kyle Galley

MONDAY

Horsham (day)

Caller: Luke Humphreys