Another Country Cup triumph for Roly

Roly Wilson’s team might be smaller than most of his bigger-name rivals at the top of the Trots Country Cup Championship, but he’s potentially in the box seat to claim the annual harness racing honour with his super-honest seven-year-old Kotare Roland.

The Julius Caesar/Kotare Yalta gelding today added the Loddon Valley Stud Boort Pacing Cup to his Cobram Pacing Cup trophy won in December, reinsman Neil McCallum with the winning drive on both occasions.

The victory moved Kotare Roland to second place, three points behind Yankee Rockstar on the Country Cups Championship.

“We’ll probably go to Warragul next week and then I’d like to consider having a look at Mildura,” an elated trainer Roly Wilson said post-race.

“It’s always a thrill to win a cup. It’s nice to win any race but to win a cup is always special.

“He’s been going well. He should’ve probably finished fourth in the Cranbourne Cup but one fell back in his face.”

Along with his Cobram and now Boort silverware, Kotare Roland has placed fifth in both the Cranbourne and Geelong Cups and second in the Gunbower Pacing Cup.

In fact, the writing has been on the wall ever since Kotare Roland’s eye-catching fifth behind Hotasel in a Melton free-for-all on November 15 when he motored down the outside in the stretch.

Today Kotare Roland sat three-wide for the final lap and a bit, about the last 800m, before overhauling the leaders at the home bend the final time to put the result to bed.

His winning mile rate was 2:03.3, just over half-a-second outside Flaming Flutter’s track record, the last 800m covered in splits of 28.6 and 29.7.

WATCH KOTARE ROLAND'S TOUGH BOORT PACING CUP WIN

Bobby Fabulous (Zac Steenhuis) was driven out hard to finish second, with consistent cups performer Uncle Wingnut third for Michael Bellman.

Early leader Just Knew (Greg Sugars) finished fourth and Nimble Jack (Glenn Douglas), who enjoyed a cushy run on the leader’s back, finished fifth.

Earlier on the card Henty horseman Grant Forrest guided his smart six-year-old Yankee Spider/Cheldean Maori mare Forestspider to victory in the Haras Des Trotteurs Boort Trotters Cup.

WATCH FORESTSPIDER TAKE OUT THE TROTTERS CUP AT BOORT

Trotting away smartly to land the lead fairly quickly from polemarker Robbie Zuve, Forestspider got away cheap early fractions until tackled at the bell by Maorisfavouritesun (Glen Craven), who ran to the top.

The pair drew clear of the field, Forestspider peeling to the outside at the home corner and chipping away at the margin until the finish line when she stuck her head in front in timely fashion.

“She didn’t trot too good around that final turn so I had to nurse her back a little bit after I pulled the deafeners,” Forrest said.

Forestspider’s mile rate was 2:07.4, with Maorisfavouritesun second and Rostevarren third for Ross Graham.

A big crowd was on hand throughout the day at Boort, lining the fence for every race in perfect conditions weather wise.

The club was celebrating 125 years of continuous racing and was selling a book on the subject, which proved very popular with punters and horsemen alike.

Ray Fewings and Allan Hull joined caller Matt Hill on the day to share calling duties, a club initiative which also proved popular.

All three callers were full of praise for the day and thanked the club for its hospitality.

The Trots Country Cups Carnival continues next weekend with the Renown Silverware Ararat Cup on Saturday night followed by the Easter Sunday Downtowner Warragul Pacing Bowl Cup.

Cody Winnell

Harness Racing Victoria