Tweedledee rolls the favourites

Punters could be forgiven for heading straight to the bar shortly after the start of Beraldo Coffee Trot at Melton.

Watts Up Partytime, the $2.15 second elect, galloped out from the mobile losing all winning chance and much to the chagrin of harness racing favorite backers Kyvalley Amanda ($2 fav) broke after leading 200 metres later.

Meanwhile Watts Up Partytime’s stable mate Tweedledee (Superfast Stuart) settled third in the small field before driver Jordan Leedham pulled out with 800 metres to travel and the eight-year-old surged clear around the home turn.

On the line Tweedledee ($5.50) held a five metre advantage over the stable mates Kyvalley Amanda  and Kyvalley Heist.

Leedham conceded his task was made easier when the two fancied runners made mistakes early in the race.

“He was super, everything went our way with the two favorites galloping early although Kyvalley Amanda ended up on my back and didn’t lose as much ground as Kate did on Watts Up Partytime,” Leedham said.

“To his credit he strode up outside of them on his ear and when I asked him for an effort he hit the line like a steam train,” he said.

The win continues the successful association between Tweedledee and Leedham who has been a part of the horse’s four wins since arriving from New Zealand 12 months ago.

The win also completed a training double for Andy Gath who led Classic Mission (Vincent) into the winner’s stall earlier in the night with his wife Kate in the sulky.

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink