Derby heat winner ready to make a big impact

Cardigan harness racing trainer Allan McDonough says a short freshen up has Victoria Derby runner-up Blitzern primed to make a big impact in the Rock N Roll Heaven Vicbred Super Series for three-year-old colts and geldings.

Blitzern returns to the races for the first time since his stand-out Victoria Derby campaign in early October in the Vicbred Super Series heats at Kilmore on Wednesday night. Click here to see fields.

McDonough is rapt with the way colt has come back, saying “he had a week off. That was it.”

He said Blitzern had thrived in every aspect in the break and it had always been the plan to go into the season-ending Vicbred Super Series first-up.

McDonough said rather than go the races, a trial at Melton had been a perfect hit-out.

He rated 1:56.2 for the 2240m, finishing in 57.05 and 27.60 seconds.

McDonough said Blitzern’s improvement had been significant – “five or six lengths” – during a relatively light three-year-old program.

The son of Western Terror has had seven starts for four wins in succession, which included a Victoria Derby heat victory.

Blitzern has drawn outside the front row for 2180m trip at Kilmore, but this does not faze McDonough.

“We’ll be going forward off the gate.”

And if that means Blitzern having to face the breeze, McDonough is happy with that.

His son Bailey, who has driven Blitzern in each of his starts this season, will again be in the cart.

McDonough is hoping Blitzern can start the Vicbred Super Series in the same way he did in the classic last season as a two-year-old, winning a heat and then going on to finish second in a semi-final and sixth to Kimble in the final.

He clashes with Kimble from the Matthew Craven stable again in the first of four heats, with the reigning champion drawing the pole.

Kimble and the Emma Stewart-trained Victoria Derby third placegetter Longfellow shape as Blitzern’s main dangers.

Kilmore is the second night of the Vicbred Super Series pacing heats, with the two-year-olds going around at Shepparton on Tuesday night and four-year-olds at Ballarat on Thursday night.

Emma Stewart will have the biggest presence at Kilmore, with 14 starters across the eight three-year-old heats.

By David Brehaut for HRV