Former claimer aiming up at $50,000 final

Yorkshire takes the first step in defending his title as Victoria’s short-course king when he lines up in the third heat of harness racing’s All In One Property Mercury80 at Tabcorp Park on Friday night.

Under the tutelage of Kima Frenning, the son of A Rocknroll Dance took out both the heat and final of last year’s edition of the 1200-metre dash.

Shaun McNaulty successfully claimed the much sought-after pacer after it finished third in the Battle Of The Claimers Final in November, noting “there were something like 32 claims lodged for him and we were lucky enough to get him”.

McNaulty admitted he was encouraged to enter Yorkshire in the series following the effort of stablemate Hashtag, who finished runner-up behind La Puddie in the opening heat.

“The series wasn’t really on the radar with Yorkshire but when Hashtag went so well I decided to put him in Friday night’s heat, if anything this bloke goes a fraction better than Hashtag,” he said.

McNaulty acknowledged the task of prevailing in the final would be greater this year.

“He drew well last year and led in the heat and was on the leader’s back in the final,” he said.

“Because of his ranking (NR111) this year he will draw one of the outside three barriers, so we are going to need a bit of luck.”

McNaulty conceded Yorkshire raced below expectations at his last outing but was buoyed by his track work since.

“I thought he was a bit disappointing at Bendigo but I’m a lot happier with his work at home this week,” he said.

While Yorkshire has already earned almost double his claiming price of $14,000, his racing options may be limited in the next month or so according to his trainer.

“He is too highly ranked to race in the tier two or three country cups, so he’s really a high-class claimer and there isn’t much around in the immediate future. It would be good if we could get both he and Hashtag into the final, which is a $50,000 race.”

He goes up against recent Vicbred Super Series finalist Jilliby Sylvester, who appears well suited coming out of barrier four and should strip fitter for his close-up fourth behind Rackemup Tigerpie in last Sunday’s Matthews Petroleum Hamilton Pacing Cup.

As well as the heat win all are racing for a spot in the $50,000 final, which will be at Tabcorp Park on Del-Re National A. G. Hunter Cup night (February 5).

This Friday night is the penultimate heat, with the last qualification opportunity coming on January 29, Night Two of the TAB Summer of Glory.

To view fields for Melton on Friday night click here.

By John Dunne for HRV