Trotters continue to flourish

Harness Racing Victoria’s international ambitions have sometimes outweighed their capacity, but as legendary entrepreneur Richard Branson once opined if you ‘reach higher than you expect, you could reach higher than you ever dreamed’.

And right now, we’re on the cusp of fulfilling Branson’s prediction.

By the way, when talking about internationalisation, we’re talking about squaregaiting.

Yes, we’ve certainly exported many outstanding pacers to North America, and, in many senses we actually sustain their industry.

Despite this, the global gravitas which most Australasian standardbred zealots have sought for decades domiciles itself in Europe.

There, in many ways, lies the Holy Grail.

Let’s be clear here; we’re not there yet.

Let’s also be clear that we’re closing at a rate of knot.

Tonight’s feature event, the La Coocaracha, is ample evidence of that.

Even with many of Victoria’s – and Australia’s – finest trotting mares seeking respite following a frenetic spate of feature contests in recent months, the La Coocaracha still harbours three or perhaps four mares of elite, or near elite, status.

And, crucially, all six squaregaiting females engaged are either partly or wholly overseas bred.

In a nutshell, this means that the current generation of American and European bred trotters, great as they are, will be usurped by the following generation in this nation.

Just think about it.

Imagine a local stallion out of Bacardi Lindy or Quaker Jet being paired with some of the mares racing at headquarters tonight like Queen Elida, Sleepee or Keayang Livana.

Those crosses may not even make sense; but who cares, it’s all about the dream.

Duncan McPherson and Pat Driscoll are well acknowledged in their efforts to realise this dream, as they should be, but many others have played their part.

Jim Connelly clearly comes to mind, but myriad southern hemisphere squaregaiting zealots have also contributed to accelerating the progression of down under trotters and all should take a very rightful bow.

Much as we all love the fearsome and pitched nature of feature racing carnivals, there’s also something soothing about a break in play.

Tonight’s 10-race meeting at Melton isn’t flashy or glamorous.

It is, however, wildly competitive and thrilling in its own way.

Seductive as multiple Group 1 cards are, analytically they’re typically cut-and-dried.

Class is clear and results are predictable.

This evening, such predictability is barely conceivable.

Even the most likely winners; horses like Our Vinnie, Imperials Reason and District Attorney have their challenges ahead.

And for punters – real punters – nothing could be sweeter.

Rather than conceding victory to class commodities, this is a card which forces one to think.

Even then, even if you think your way through the labyrinth and get the basics right, there are no definitive guarantees.

It’s this cavernous confusion which racing investors of all three codes, love the very most.

by Jason Bonnington, for Harness Racing Victoria