Taylad To Use breaks through in Trotters Final

Former New Zealand trotter Taylad to Use (Used To Me) gave a faultless display of front running in the Somerset Farms Darrell Alexander Trotting Championship Final at Albion Park on Saturday evening.

A capacity field of fourteen runners participated in the $54,080 Final over the standing start distance of 2647 metres journey.

Stepping cleanly from the barrier 2 Taylad To Use was taken straight to the lead by trainer driver Grant Dixon. Coming off the equal back mark of 20 metres Hide And Seek was sent around the field and after racing three wide moved up to race outside the leader.

By contrast favourite Golden Sunset who had won both her heats and was off 20 metres was allowed to stay back at the rear by driver Shane Graham. She was still last in the final lap before attempting to make a run out wide but she never looked likely to gather in the leaders.

TAYLAD TO USE NOV 29 REPLAY

Get Used To It who had a perfect run one out and one back issued a strong challenge on straightening but Taylad To Use showed plenty of determination to hold off the challenge and he scored by just over two metres from Get Used To It with Berries And Cherries finishing on strongly for third placing.

Taylad To Use won seven races in New Zealand before arriving at Grant Dixon’s stables in May of this year. He won at his second start at Albion Park in June. He was considered a chance for the Inter Dominion but performed well below his best in the two rounds of heats.

Freshened up by Dixon, Taylad To Use showed a glimpse of form running second in a round of Heats of the Darrell Alexander but he wasn’t highly fancied in the Final.

Get Used To It was a gallant runner up while Berriesandcherries ran a much improved race for third.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink