Two year old trotters show their style at Bendigo

A patient drive by ace harness racing reinsman James Herbertson was the main factor behind Howdy Mate (Elite Stride) winning the Gavin Lang Aldebaran Park Trotters mile for two year olds at Bendigo on Wednesday evening.

Kept safe in the betting Howdy Mate was able to work through up on the inside from his second row draw.

Early on Im Havintotrot quickly found the lead while Jays All That broke up going up to test for the lead. Then hot favourite Unclad who went around the field suddenly broke and effectively lost all chance. Brother Mountain who had won at his debut at Bendigo settled behind the leader with Howdy Mate directly behind three back on the rails.

By way of his decent manners Im Havintotrot seemed to have his rivals off the bit with Brother Mountain about to make his run to challenge. Meanwhile Howdy Mate was quietly moving up to issue a challenge by staying on the rails.

Im Havintotrot still looked as if he might hold on but Howdy Mate finished too strongly on the rails to win by four metres from Im Havintotrot with Brother Mountain third just ahead of Vance Lane who had raced outside the leader.

HOWDY MATE AUG 6 REPLAY

Howdy Mate had played up in his two previous starts at Melton but a winning trial at the track served notice that he would figure prominently in the event.

Trained by Jess Tubbs Howdy Mate looks well placed for the two year old classics later on this season if he maintains his good behaviour and as usual was helped with an impeccable drive by Herbertson.

Howdy Lane’s dam Glenferrie Dash was lightly raced and won five times with three placings from just thirteen starts. Unfortunately Glenferrie Dash passed away but she has left a yearling filly by Zenith Stride and bred by Alabar Farms.

The Graeme Lang Aldebaran Park trotters Mile for two year old fillies was taken out in style by unbeaten filly Tipple Time (Six Pack) whos showed a lot of resilience in in edging out Hallebesofine and Jilliby Aura.

TIPPLE TIME AUG 6 REPLAY

Hallebesofine who was backed into favouritism showed too much dash from the pole to lead after holding out a spirited challenge from Harperseven who had to settle behind the leader. Jason Hackett on Tipple Time allowed his filly time to settle down and was three back.

Hallebesofine continued to fight on but Tipple Time looked to be travelling much better as they straightened. However Tipple Time had a tendency to hang in under pressure and it took all of Hackett’s skill to guide her to a narrow win over Hallebesofine with Jilliby Aura just behind them in third after making up a lot of ground.

Tipple Time had won her previous start at Geelong but at Bendigo she improved her time rating 2.1.4 for the mile journey.

Hackett leases the filly from the Arcadia Harness Racing Group. Hackett trains a small team at Balliang and is sure to look forward to the forthcoming classics especially if she races more truly which hopefully will come with experience.

For complete race results, click here.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink