Chris Judd adds classic to his current success

Menangle based harness racing trainer Chris Judd is firing at present and in a rare training feat he prepared the first and second placings in last night’s Listed Classic, the Charge Auto Group Winter Gift Final at Menangle last night.

The week prior Judd prepared two of the Heat winners in Alta William and Jilliby Fabio who were driven by Peter McRae as stable driver Cameron Hart was at the Inter Dominion meeting at Albion Park.

Alta William had looked the more impressive and Hart elected to drive him while McRae settled for the drive on Jilliby Fabio. Punters went for Alta William with support from the Western districts pacer Fashion Icon.

Jilliby Fabio showed early speed to lead but McRae opted for a sit behind Alta William who took up the running shortly after the start. Fashion Icon showed no speed from the pole position and he was well back smothered on the rails.

JILLIBY FABIO JUL 26 REPLAY

Alta William looked to be travelling smoothly in the lead as he was nicely rated by Hart. The field behind him appeared to be struggling but once Jilliby Fabio came off the fence he issued a strong challenge and he was running away at the finish to defeat Alta William by just under four metres with outsider Montefiore in third.

Judd has a more than useful team currently in work and apart from Jilliby Fabio and Alta William has the useful pacers Vite Monet, Montalbano and Dom Toretto who are all proving to be good money spinners for their connections.

McRae drives mainly in the Riverina where he is amongst the leading drivers on the local circuits. He’s won 375 races but doesn’t get the chance to drive too regularly at Menangle so his recent purple patch at New South Wales headquarters are well deserved.

For complete race results, click here.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink