Favourites win New South Wales Two and Three Year Old Trot Finals

Harness Racing New South Wales staged both finals for the juvenile trotters at Menangle Park on Saturday night and punters were on the mark when Miss Ohana (Art Major) and Gladiatrix (Elite Stride) won their respective finals.

The $50,000 Group 2 Final for the three year olds was taken out in stylish style by the much improved filly Miss Ohana who is prepared at Shepparton by youthful trainer Courtney Laker in the Goulburn Valley in Victoria.

On the strength of her success in the Foundation Final in June, Miss Ohana was sent out a short priced favourite and driver Bailey McDonough had no hesitation in taking the lead with her only considered danger San Juan Mountain taking a trail behind the leader.

MISS OHANA JULY 5 REPLAY

Outsider Majestic Funds pestered Miss Ohana for much of the race but despite having had little respite in the lead Miss Ohana cleared away to record a most impressive win over Sebastians Waiting with Majestic Funds running a mighty race for a rank outsider in third.

Miss Ohana must now be considered for the Victoria Trotters Oaks later in the year.

In the $50,000 Group 2 Final for the Two year olds only five runners accepted but it turned out to be an entertaining spectacle.

Gladiatrix who had blotted her copybook in the two year old Foundation was still sent out a hot favourite by punters. And this time the black filly was on her best behaviour as driver Lleyton Green guided her to the front.

Victorian driver Mark Hayes who had come up to drive Aldebaran Tucker for Anton Golino opted to take the trail while the Foundation winner Cee Cee In Paris broke after the start and settled back to the rear.

GLADIATRIX JULY 5 REPLAY

Gladiatrix was beautifully rated in front and she ran her last quarter in 27.9 seconds to record an impressive win over Aldebaran Tucker and Im Dreaming.

Gladiatrix is prepared by Dean and Kerry McDowell and she is a half sister to the former top juvenile trotter Maximus Meridius.

She’s clearly the best two year old trotter in New South Wales and it’ll be interesting if connections decide to venture to Victoria to tackle their feature classic events later in the season.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink