Grimson and Hart dominate Hunter Cup night

Saturday evening’s AG Hunter Cup meeting firmly entrenched the date as one of Australia’s premier harness racing venues with a great spectacle of quality racing attracting the best around.

The evening was characterised by the return to Swayzee (Rock N Roll Heaven) to successfully defend his AG Hunter title in a gripping finish while the nation’s premier trotter Keayang Zahara (Volstead) showed why she is heads above her rivals with effortless wins in both Heat and final of the Great Southern Star.

But the night certainly belonged to New South Wales Trainer Jason Grimson and his driver Cameron Hart. Together they combined to win four races that of Swayzee (Rock N Roll Heaven) in the Hunter Cup, Captains Mistress (Captaintreacherous) in the Queen of the Pacific and then for further measure HimanameisJeff (Art Major) and Chase A Dream (Captaintreacherous).

The first three winners are owned by the nation’s leading owner Mick Boots which is a testament to his investment in harness racing and the depth of his horses that he has racing.

Hart added yet another win with Brooklyn Dan (Captain Crunch) in the Caduceus Classic and that was probably his best drive on the night when he slotted Brooklyn Dan right behind the favourite Fugitive and pounced with a  lightning move at the top of the home straight to narrowly prevail.

Both Grimson and Hart are clear leaders in the New South Wales Metropolitan Trainers and Drivers Premiership respectively.

They’re likely to achieve more success at Menangle’s up coming Miracle Mile carnival especially with the freakish mare Captains Mistress who can break her rivals hearts with devastating speed.

With 1458 wins (including 18 Australian Group 1s) to date Hart is well on the way of achieving 1500 wins soon. Similarly Grimson has trained 536 winners that includes 13 Group 1s.

The other highlight was that of yet another interstate performer Hesitate (Sportswriter) who came from last to first to win the 4YO Bonanza.

The last six weeks of the Summer of Glory Cups Carnival has been a great success starting at Bendigo in early January and finishing at Melton last night. And in no small part has been the presence of the interstate runners and their connections. The appearance of Leap To Fame the nation’s favourite pacer at the Cups along with Swayzee, Kingman and the New Zealander Republican Party all added to the keenly contested racing.

It’s the presence of interstate competition that drives up interest and more importantly betting turnover. This is something that all states will be considering when planning their feature races. They only have to see the success of the Victorian Summer of Glory carnival to note that the attendance of the best pacers in the land (or at least Eastern Seaboard of Australia) is the strongest asset they have in their promotion.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink