Emerging four-year-old trotter Harry Stamper (Majestic Son) made it two wins from as many starts this harness racing campaign when he took out the McNamara Memorial Trotters Cup at Geelong.
Punters deemed the Cup a race in three with the heavily backed Kyvalley Hotspot sent out a $2.40 favorite ahead of Harry Stamper and One Over All on the second line of betting at $3.70.
James Herbertson was content to allow Harry Stamper time to balance from his 10 metre handicap before settling at the rear of the field after the 30 metre back maker One Over All made a mid-race move towards the lead.
Harry Stamper showed a slick turn of foot when Herbertson pulled out three wide at the 400 metre mark and the son of Majestic Son quickly rounded up his rivals around the home turn before bounding away to score by five meters from Vic tree Hill and One Over All.
Stamping his authority!
Harry Stamper claims his first country cup in style, coming off 10m and with a charging finish running away with the Haras des Trotteurs McNamara Trotters Cup at Geelong tonight. James Herbertson took the drive for trainer Joe Pace.@YabbyDamFarms pic.twitter.com/zB676uZAbp— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) October 21, 2023
Herbertson said the Joe Pace prepared trotter made light work of gathering in the leaders.
āIt was a good solid temp from the 1200 and he cornered that well that he was making up ground when they were running good times,ā Herbertson said.
However, Herbertson said Harry Stamper has a tendency to lose concentration at times in the home straight.
āHe knocked off again when he got in front, he probably should have won by 10 (metres) again but heās just a lovely horse,ā he said.
Herbertson acknowledged the Pace familyās contribution to the sport.
āThe Pace family put a lot of money into the sport and itās good to see them get a nice horse like him to get a bit back and have a bit of fun with,ā he said
For complete race results,Ā click here.
byĀ John Dunne, for Harnesslink