Gus breaks track record in triumphant return

Gus (Majestic Son) the pride of Queensland trotting underlined his dominance over the locals with a most impressive harness racing win in the Listed Our Overanova Trotters Marathon at Albion Park on Saturday evening.

Coming off 40 metres and spotting all of his rivals a start, Gus commenced safely but even so settled back at the rear of the field.

The very capable but unreliable Not As Promised commenced brilliantly from his 20 metre handicap to take over from Masterly who also showed high speed at the beginning.

Not As Promised was giving a sound display in front and was looking likely to be the main danger as he free wheeled along with the others trying to stay in touch.

Golden Sunset started to make up some ground in the back straight while Pete McMullen on Gus issued his challenge three wide along the back straight. He sprinted so quickly that he had the leaders covered at the top of the home straight and he was unextended winning by five metres from Not As Promised with Hide and Seek in third placing.

GUS 7 FEB REPLAY

But proof of just how good Gus is was the new track record of 1.59.5 for the 3157 metres.

It looks as if Gus has come back better than ever following his Dominion Trotters and Free For All wins at Christchurch in November, the only Australian trained trotter to achieve the feat.

Gus will be prepared for the Group 1 Hammerhead Mile at Menangle on 14 March where he may clash with the nation’s leading trotter Keayang Zahara. He may also go to Cambridge in New Zealand for the Slot classic. Eventually these two great trotters will meet most likely in this year’s Inter Dominion to be held at Gus’s home track of Albion Park. And with the level of improvement that he has shown he has proven himself to be a worthy opponent to Keayang Zahara who is truly the testing material for trotters in Australia.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink