NSW draws first blood on Nutrien Classic night

NSW juvenile trotter Rainbow Jester (Majestic Son) drew first blood on Haras Des Trotteurs Nutrien Equine Classic night at Melton when he annihilated his harness racing  rivals in the $75,000 2Y0 Trotting Colts & Geldings Final. 

Rainbow Jester puts in a colourful performance to win the Haras Des Trotteurs Nutrien Equine Classic for two-year-old trotting colts & geldings final for trainer-driver Dennis Day. pic.twitter.com/PBpsUyOdhE

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) April 20, 2024

Unbeaten in his only two starts, the son of Majestic Son settled in fourth place on the pegs before Goulburn horseman Dennis Day pulled out to stake his claim with 600 metres to travel. 

Rainbow Jester ($1.90 fav) quickly put a gap on the opposition and increased the margin to a 34 metre advantage on the line with fellow NSW youngster Sioux Warrior filling second place. 

Day admitted he had concerns at the start when half of the field galloped out. 

“I followed out a safe beginner but had to check however it all worked out good in the end,” Day said. 

Day said the trotter was virtually bought by mistake for $7000. 

“My sons Aaron and Mark liked him and bought him at the Sales and then they looked at him in the ring after they bought him and only then realised that he was a trotter,” he said. 

Day said Rainbow Jester has improved at each of his three lifetime outings. 

“He has stepped up to the plate whenever we’ve asked him and that helps,” he said. 

Later in the night 38-year-old Matthew Whittle scored the biggest win of his career when he steered debutant Prohibited Grace (Volstead) to an upset win in the $75,000 Haras Des Trotteurs Nutrien Equine Classic (2YO Trotting Fillies) Final. 

Prohibitive Grace ($17) was caught sitting parked outside Kinvara Kate before forging to the lead on straightening and the youngster proved too strong in the home stretch scoring by four metres from the $2.30 favorite Keayang Kurki. 

First starter Prohibited Grace. has taken out the Haras Des Trotteurs Nutrien Equine Classic two-year-old Trotting Fillies Final for Matthew and Graeme Whittle. pic.twitter.com/cTCXJU4cXh

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) April 20, 2024

Prior to the race Whittle had driven only 15 winners in his career. 

“It beats running around in the old TO races,” Whittle said. 

“It’s good to sit behind a reasonably nice horse that does all the right things for a great outcome, it’s definitely the biggest race I’ve been involved in,” he said. 

Whittle admitted he was concerned when he was caught leading the outside division and unable to get cover. 

“I didn’t want to be sitting out there as she was only trial fit and all the others were race fit but turning for home I was still hanging on to her and the others were asking but she got home better than the others,” he said. 

Prohibitive Grace is a daughter of boom stallion Volstead who has sired the winners of three of the four Trotting Finals decided so far. 

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink