Changeover filly emerges as Oaks contender

Glenferrie Bronte has emerged as a serious Victoria Oaks hopeful after a stunning harness racing win in the Harness Breeders (Vic) Trackbred 3YO Classic tonight at Tabcorp Park Melton.

Trainer/driver Amanda Turnbull set the speed aboard the Changeover / Equus Franco filly after landing the front early from gate three.

With Keayang Torah (Glen Craven, $13.10) up eyeballing her in the run, Glenferrie Bronte ($3.10) had to notch quicker sectionals than she would have liked.

She covered the first quarter of the last mile in 28.9secs before a 28.8secs second split made it a 57.7secs first half.

Glenferrie Bronte kicked clear coming off the back straight with Keayang Torah spitting the dummy after pulling hard.

Last season’s Breeders Crown and Vicbred Super Series champion Niki No No (Greg Sugars, $2.9fav) spotted Glenferrie Bronte the best part of 20 metres at the home bend and was covering ground out wide.

Glenferrie Bronte’s third quarter was 29.1secs and she was in top flight on straightening for the run home.

Niki No No and Du Vella (Geoff Webster, $8.2), both driven off the speed, were launching late claims – especially Niki No No – but it was to no avail, Turnbull and Glenferrie Bronte clocking a 29.7secs final quarter for a mile rate of 1:56.7 over the 2240m trip, the margin 1.4m between the winner and Niki No No at the post.

The victory was Glenferrie Bronte's fourth in six starts.

>> Video: Watch Glenferrie Bronte take out the Harness Breeders (Vic) Trackbred 3YO Classic.

Du Vella was third ahead of Lovelist (John Caladow, $9.8) in fourth and Union Ally (Grant Campbell, $39.40) in fifth.

Delight Me, who would have started a short-priced favourite tonight, was scratched earlier today.

by Cody Winnell