Classy trotter out to land another country cup

The in-form One Over All (Angus Hall) will look to extend his lead in the Maori’s Idol Trotting Championship when he tackles tonight’s (Apr. 28) Aldebaran Park Bendigo Trotters Cup from the 20m backmark.

The Jess Tubbs-trained squaregaiter has won the Horsham, Charlton and Ararat features in recent weeks and sits a point clear of Victree Hill on the overall season-long harness racing leaderboard.

This year’s Maori’s Idol Trotting Championship offers a $25,000 bonus to the winner, with $15,000 given to the successful owner and $10,000 to the trainer. Five points are awarded for a win during the series, with three for second and two for third. All other starters receive one point.

Regular driver Greg Sugars is in New Zealand to partner One Over All’s stablemate Better Eclipse in the Group 1 Dawson Harford Messenger, meaning Bailey McDonough will have his very first drive of the horse in tonight’s $30,000 feature.

Five rivals – Harry Stamper (Joe Pace), Travel Bug (Shaun and Jason McNaulty), Ultimate Stride (Chris Lang), Ofortuna (Craig Demmler) and Locksley Lover (John Nissen) – will begin off the 10m handicap, while last-start Mildura Trotters Cup winner Downunder Barkers (Brad Cross) is joined on the front by Sonny Brooke (Lindsay Potter).

The Bendigo Trotters Cup is the feature of tonight’s eight-race card from Lords Raceway, with the race set to go at 8.30pm.

For complete race fields, click here.

by Tim O’Connor, for HRV