Australasian Breeders Crown Finals

Follow today's Australasian Breeders Crown Finals at Tabcorp Park Melton as they happen. We will post results throughout the harness racing programme with videos of each Final as soon as practical after each race.

There are ten Australasian Breeders Crown Finals on the day, eight Group 1 Finals for two and three-year-olds and two Group 2 Finals for four-year-old Entires and Geldings and four-year-old mares.

Race 1 – ALDEBARAN PARK BREEDERS CROWN SERIES 20 (2YO TROTTING COLTS & GELDINGS) $90,000 FINAL (GROUP 1)

First home was the very impressive Wobelee by Down Under Muscles from the Sundon mare Tupenny Bit. Driven by Chris Alford and trained by Alison Alford Wobelee has now had the twelve starts for ten wins straight and now has earnings of $18,330. La Grange (Muscle Hill) was a good second with Smashthemcalder (Lucky Chucky) third.

Driver Chris Alford says:

"They have long years these horses and he was probably on his worst behaviour today, he wouldn't even warm up. He kept getting to the gate, jacking up and stopping in the middle of the track.

"When he got to the first turn he just slammed the brakes on like he was going to pull up again. I think Anthony's horse (Smashthemcalder) may have run into the back of him for a few strides, thankfully he didn't gallop.

"Then he sort of got his mind on the job. I had to keep yelling at him just to keep him thinking.

"I didn't want to be out in front by myself, I had to yell at him to keep him concentrating. He was good, good run today. Two minutes on this bad day, windy and that. He'll have a nice rest now and hopefully come back better next year.

"It's good to have this race first and get it out of the way."

Wobelee

Race 2 – ALDEBARAN PARK BREEDERS CROWN SERIES 20 (2YO TROTTING FILLIES) $90,000 FINAL (GROUP 1)

Another impressive front running victory here by Our Rezenmae NZ a New Zealand own and trained filly by The Pres from the Lindy Lane mare City Lane. Jack Harrington trains Our Rezenmae. This filly was driven by Dexter Dunn. Our Rezenmae now has earnings of $68,804. Second home was Aleppo Jewel (Angus Hall) and third was Amour De Frere (Love You).

Trainer Jack Harrington says:

"It's great to be here. I couldn't have imagined being here 12 months ago.

"(A trainer of three years), it's been pretty hard going, but having a horse like her makes it all worthwhile.

"I've had good people teach me what it is all about. Great mentors along the way and I couldn't be more grateful.

"I was actually surprised (all the owners) came over, but it's great to have everyone here."

Our Rezenmae NZ

Race 3 – WOODLANDS STUD BREEDERS CROWN SERIES 19 (3YO TROTTING COLTS & GELDINGS) $65,000 FINAL (GROUP 1)

War Spirit NZ leads most of the way to win for driver Kate Gath and trainer Andy Gath. It was the fourth lifetime win for the son of Monarchy and the Gee Whiz 11 mare Sylvias Star. War Spirit now has total earnings of $73,126 to date from just the 18 starts. Second home was the Sundon gelding Jilliby Babavska and third was Kheiron by Majestic Son.

Driver Kate Gath says:

"He's a funny horse, he never travels that well, even when he won at Maryborough he was off the bit a fair way out. I think he probably does need a spell. Since we've had him he's got a bit tired, so he's done a good job today and hopefully after a freshen up he comes back a bit better.

"He had pretty good form in New Zealand and when we got him I liked him, but he didn't do anything special at home. Luckily today this race probably wasn't as hard as they normally are, but barrier seven was a huge worry. I do think he's probably better off the pace. Hopefully he's learning and we were sort of forced to do what we did from the draw. He was able to get the job done.

"(Owner) Norm (Jenkin's) been really good to us, he's just bought quite a few horses from New Zealand the last 12 months. He gets a huge thrill out of it and we're extremely lucky that he keeps buying these horses and as a result we're able to win good races."

War Spirit NZ

Race 4 – WOODLANDS STUD BREEDERS CROWN SERIES 19 (3YO FILLIES) $190,000 FINAL (GROUP 1)

Petacular finally gets her Breeders Crown victory for trainer driver Michael Stanley, from the good draw she made it look easy. The daughter of champion sire Somebeacsomewhere and the Western Ideal mare Ideal Priority was having her 26th start taking her record to 19 wins and seven placings for stakes now of $450,085. Second home was the Rocknroll Hanover filly Miss Graceland and the third placing went to Partyon (Bettor's Delight).

Driver Michael Stanley says:

"Whether or not she's a superstar in other people's eyes she is in ours. She's been at the top of these races all year, to cap off the season with a win like that in the Breeders Crown, which is the best of the best in Australasia, is just unbelievable.

"Barrier draws are just a number and you have to deal with it each time you go out. To be able to hold the challenges early and have your main fancies chasing you for a change, in harness racing we all know is really hard to do. We were happy to roll along and had great confidence that whatever the outcome she'd give us 110 per cent like she always does."

Petacular

Race 5 – HYGAIN BREEDERS CROWN CHAMPIONSHIP (4YO ENTIRES & GELDINGS) $50,000 (GROUP 2)

Dont Hold Back caused a minor upset when winning this $50,000 Group 2 race for owner / trainer / driver Mario Attard. The son of ill-fated stallion Courage Under Fire and the Badlands Hanover mare Braeview Express was having his 32nd start and 12th win taking his earnings to $213,415 lifetime. Second home was Shadow Sax (Shadow Play) and third was Code Black (Bettor's Delight).

Dont Hold Back

Race 6 – ALWAYS B MIKI BREEDERS CROWN SERIES 20 (2YO FILLIES) $285,000 FINAL (GROUP 1)

Nostra Villa with Chris Alford driving produced the run of day parked outside favourite Our Bettor Joy for almost the entire race and still held on to win from Angel Of Harlem NZ (Mach Three) who got close, followed by Molly Kelly (Four Starzzz Shark) who ran third.. Nostra Villa is by Art Major from the Sands A Flyin mare Crystal Journey. Only beaten once in her career todate Nostra Ville has had nine starts for eight wins with a bank balance now of $269,590.

Driver Chris Alford says:

"She's a super filly, she just doesn't know how to lay down. Apart from being strong she's fast as well, it was a shame she lost last week by a nose, but to come back today and win was just a super effort.

"She settled really nice early, there was a little bit of speed out of the gate. She travelled around really good and always felt really strong. When we decided to get going off the back she just put the other one (Our Better Joy) away. The other one (Our Angel Of Harlem) nearly run her down, but thankfully she stuck her head out and was too good."

Nostra Villa

Race 7 – IRT BREEDERS CROWN SERIES 19 (3YO COLTS & GELDINGS) $190,000 FINAL (GROUP 1)

Hot favourite The More The Better made a break soon after the start and that caused checks that made the race a roughly run affair. Our Little General once again proved that he is top dog again in this three-year-old division winning for the 13th time from 27 starts in all. His earnings are now just below the $500,000 mark. By Mach Three from the Western Terror mare Kabbalah Karen. Second was Jilliby Kung Fu (Four Starzzz Shark) followed by Motu Meteor (Bettors Delight).

Driver Chris Alford says:

"I'm just rapt for this little fella. He was just struggling away a little bit a couple of months ago with some issues, but Clayton (Tonkin) and Emma (Stewart) have done a great job to get him back to his old self.

"He had a little bit of luck with the leader galloping and being able to get to the front, but he still had to go pretty fast to win and he's a great little horse.

"It was interesting. I didn't really want to trail Mista Lombo and then the leader broke so we got the front. I thought Stars Align had dropped in on my back, and then when Jilliby (Kung Fu) come I thought, 'oh well, we will be able to take a trail here and get him behind us'. Then when I looked I thought, 'oh no, (Stars Align's) not on the fence', that sort of mucked it up a little bit.

"(Our Little General) stuck his little head out and he won. He's got a heart as big as himself and it just shows size doesn't mean everything."

Our Little General

Race 8 – WOODLANDS STUD BREEDERS CROWN SERIES 20 (2YO COLTS & GELDINGS) $285,000 FINAL (GROUP 1)

Ray Green trained and David Butcher driven King Of Swing led from start to finish in this Group One Final. It was the 6th win from 8 starts for the son of Rocknroll Hanover out of the good racemare Twist And Twirl (Artsplace). King Of Swing has earnings now of $179,787. A close second was Poster Boy (Somebeachsomewhere) and third was Colt Thirty One (Mach Three).

Driver David Butcher says:

"I think the way he went today, he's obviously improved during the week. He was always travelling, they kept coming and kept having a look at him, and we kept going and I'm glad we got there first.

"He's only just learning too, a big effort. (Ray Green's) team have come over a couple of times and just haven't got it right and I'm lucky enough to be the one that's got it for them.

"Always love coming over here and winning, you can't beat it."

King Of Swing

Race 9 -YABBY DAM RACING BREEDERS CROWN SERIES 19 (3YO TROTTING FILLIES) $65,000 FINAL (GROUP 1)

A brilliantly bred Muscle Hill filly from the top racemare La Coocaracha, Dance Craze was far too good for the opposition today at Tabcorp Park Melton in this breeders Crown division. A Yabby Dam Farm bred, trained and owned filly Dance Craze won the Yabby Dam Farm sponsored race with ease. Her record is 10 starts, seven wins for $94,260 in earnings to date. Second was the Angus Hall filly Une Belle Allure also owned by Yabby Dame Farm and third was Chevron Express (Muscle Mass).

Driver Nathan Jack says:

"For this mare to finally get a Group 1 is really special and I'm sure the gang at Yabby Dam will cherish it.

"Anton (Golino's) head is on the chopping block if something goes wrong so you have to give him a lot of the credit. For him to stick by me and put me on I'm just over the moon."

Trainer Anton Golino says:

"It's been a great year with these fillies. I couldn't wish for any more, I want to thank all my staff, Pat has stuck by us. It's amazing what he's doing for the sport and no one deserves it more than him. We appreciate it."

Dance Craze

Race 10 – NEVELE R STUD BREEDERS CROWN CHAMPIONSHIP (4YO MARES) $50,000 (GROUP 2)

Gavin Lang gets the last race of the day with the Rock N Roll Heaven mare Heavens Trend trained by Emma Stewart. This was the third win of the day for Emma Stewart. It was Heavens Trends 21st win from 35 starts and takes her stakes to $385,683. Second was Whirily School (Courage Under Fire) and third was Nikkibadwagon (Shadow Play).

Harnesslink Media