Commodus and No Money No Honey take three year old miles at Bendigo

Classy colt Commodus (Father Patrick) served notice that he will take beating in the future classics when he led all the way to take out the Wagon Apollo Three Year Old Trotters Mile at Bendigo on Wednesday evening.

After a short early battle with Sam Nien, Commodus was able to find the front by Chris Alford and from then on always looked likely to win especially with his main harness racing rival Alrighty forced to race outside the leader.

Vytas who won the Redwood at Maryborough last year as a two year old had the one out and one back trail so the race looked to be evenly matched in the final lap.

Commodus moved clear on straightening but Alrighty continued to box away but he was three metres behind Commodus at the finish with Vytas who was ahead of outsider Sam Nien who wasn’t that far from the placegetters.

COMMODUS AUG 6 REPLAY

Owned and trained by prominent identity Jayne Davies, Commodus was resuming since finishing a gallant second behind top filly Gatesys Gem in the New South Wales Trotters Derby in May and no doubt Davies is hoping he goes one better in the Victoria Trotters Derby.

The Scotch Notch Three Year Old Trotters Mile for fillies was a fast paced event from start to finish. Promising filly No Money No Honey (Volstead) came with a well timed burst to take a well earned victory.

Favourite I Am Wilma went to the front early with second favourite Keayang Kurki galloping at the start and being effectively out of the race.

Chris Lang allowed I Am Wilma to stroll along in the lead with Sassy Galleon driven by Chris Lang Junior racing up outside the leader. No Money No Honey had a one out and one back trail.

NO MONEY NO HONEY AUG 6 REPLAY

Lang allowed I Am Wilma more rein in the back straight as he attempted to break up the field. But the effort told and Sassy Galleon grabbed the lead half way down the straight. But in a stroke a driving genius James Herbertson on No Money No Honey went for the inside and the filly responded and dived on the line to just beat Sassy Galleon and I Am Wilma..

No Money No Honey rated 1.56 for the mile, notably quicker than the colt Commodus who returned 1.58.3.

The win of No Money No Honey was a double for trainer Jess Tubbs who had earlier prepared Howdy Mate in the two year old mile. It was an even better night for stable driver James Herbertson who in addition to driving Tubb’s two winners landed Bullapark Beno (Changeover) in the opening event on an all trotters card.

For complete race results, click here.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink