Hesitate locked in for July’s inaugural Protostar

Victoria has a fourth confirmed harness racing runner in Australia’s newest and richest juvenile race, the $500,000 Ladbrokes Protostar.

Brilliant youngster Hesitate (Sportswriter) has landed a slot and will join Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin’s pair The Highlight Reel and Cigano, along with Aaron Dunn’s Forty Love in the feature at Albion Park on July 27.

Part-owner and trainer Damien Burns excitedly confirmed he had reached a deal with race sponsor Ladbrokes to fill the second of their two slots in the Ladbrokes Protostar.

Ladbrokes had already locked-in the Grant Dixon-trained Fate Awaits for its first slot.

“It’s a great feeling to have a nice two-year-old, but to be offered a spot with the best two-year-olds in the country in a race like this is just awesome,” Burns said.

“The fact Scott (Petrie, part-owner) and I bred this horse makes it even more special.

“As a trainer, this is what we do it for, to have top horses racing at the top level makes all the hard work worthwhile.

“We’re looking forward to the challenge, but just being in the race is such a huge thrill for us and our families.”

Burns confirmed he would hand the reins over to superstar driver Kate Gath for the Protostar.

“It’s great Kate’s agreed to take the drive. Her record in big races is outstanding,” he said.

Hesitate has raced just five times for three wins and two seconds. Those seconds have been to The Highlight Reel and Forty Love.

“He’s just about ready to trial. I’m tossing up whether we give him a trial and a lead-up race, or just two trials and go into the Protostar fresh,” Burns said. “I’d love Kate (Gath) to drive him in a trial or race before the big one.”

Ladbrokes Australia CEO Dean Shannon, a passionate harness racing supporter, said he was excited to have two slots in the Protostar.

“This race is another innovative move for Queensland harness racing and we’re delighted to support it, both as race sponsor and with two slots,” he said.

“It was good to lock away Fate Awaits early and to help the profile of the race by bringing another exciting interstate horse into the picture, like Hesitate, is fantastic.”

Seven of the 10 slots now have confirmed runners. The remaining slot owners yet to announce a runner are: Solid Earth (Kevin & Kay Seymour), Terry Cluse and Gemma Hewitt.

CONFIRMED PROTOSTAR RUNNERS SO FAR

* Fate Awaits (Ladbrokes 1)

* My Ultimate Barney (Daren Garrard Racing)

* The Highlight Reel (Jamie Durnberger-Smith)

* Bittersweet (Goozdolphin Racing)

* Cigano (GSM Racing)

* Forty Love (Aaron Dunn Racing)

* Hesitate (Ladbrokes 2)

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia