Toot Toot! The Locomotive back on track with G1 Vicbred success

“That ones for you Tom,” said an emotional Nathan Jack in the imminent moments of his Group One harness racing success with The Locomotive (Muscle Mass) on Vicbred Super Series Finals night at Melton.

In what was no doubt an incredibly tough week for the Victorian reinsman with the passing of his long time supporter, Tom Hogan, Jack soon had reason to smile.

The blue blooded son of Muscle Mass gave him the closest thing you will see to an arm chair drive in the $100,000 final for three-year-old trotting males, dominating his opposition from go to woe.

The Locomotive who was sent out a raging $1.40 favourite was in front after 100 metres and with his biggest threats Prince Of Rock and Gotfeelingsyouknow making mistakes in the running, punters were walking early to the tote.

“I seen him (Prince Of Rock) make a mistake and that allowed me go slow early. Otherwise I was going to have to go a hell of a lot faster to make it hard for him. But when I saw him make a break it made me a hell of a lot more confident, that’s for sure,” said Jack.

The 14 metre victory for the Wayne Potter trained reigning two-year-old trotter of the year was his fifth at Group One level, and first in 2023 after being sidelined for nearly nine months between his freshman and sophomore campaigns.

The victory was The Locomotive’s second Vicbred Final having claimed the two-year-old race twelve months earlier, and puts him right back in the fold for the classics to come later in the year.

“Group One wins like this are really special, especially when they are for friends and horses like this that have won so many big races for you, it always means more,” said Jack.

“He’s still got the Derby and the Breeders Crown. He’s such a great gaited little fella and has great manners so lets hope we see him there,” he said.

THE LOCOMOTIVE REPLAY

The winning time for the 2240m journey was 2:45.1 with a mile rate of 1:58.6 and closing sectionals of 56.8 and 28.8.

Fittingly for the sponsor of the three-year-old final, Yabby Dam Farms bred the quinella. The Alex Ashwood trained and driven Stevie Gee (Used To Me) put in a great performance for second while Prince Of Rock (Wishing Stone) was excellent to rally for third after making an error in the running.

For complete race results, click here.

by Brad Reid, for Harnesslink