Hooray for Harry in Wangaratta Cup honors

Young Victorian driver Harry O’Neill scored the biggest win of his career and delivered a special victory for connections when he captured the Yarrawonga Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Wangaratta Pacing Cup on Sunday (Mar 9).

Five-year-old mare Tizzy Lizzie (Rock N Roll Heaven) gave long time servant of the Wangaratta Harness Racing Club Bernie Blackshaw his second home-track Cup, courtesy of O’Neill’s sublime drive – and a little bit of luck at the right time.

Fortunes chopped and changed in the early part of the race, with Tizzy Lizzy’s barrier eight draw appearing a difficult assignment at the outset.

There was plenty of early speed from Sassyola (1), Our Cheeky Devil (2) and the favorite Ivanabytheseaside (3) but when the latter sustained a flat tyre on the first turn she was pulled out of the race. It left Our Cheeky Devil to go to the front before handing up to Sunstar, who pressed forward as the shuffle-up played out at the front of the field.

O’Neill played the patience game buried away on the pegs but was gifted a dream run through to the back of the leader with 400 metres to go, then slid off the fence and grabbed the front as he and rival Our Cheeky Devil hit the line.

“Things didn’t pan out quite how we were planning. I was hoping to be three back on the fence, but I didn’t think the one that got to the front would lead, but it worked out okay,” an elated O’Neill said.

“It was a pretty long home straight, but she was still trying all the way.  She went really well and it was good to do it for the owners, the Blackshaw family.  Bernie and Marg always put me on the horse and I can’t thank them enough,” he said.

Bernie Blackshaw, a former president of the Wangaratta HRC and a passionate supporter of the now once-a-year club, was thrilled at the home track victory.

“To win your home cup with your home bred horse is a terrific thrill,” Blackshaw said.

Tizzy Lizzie is a half-sister to the 2016 Inter Dominion and Hunter Cup champion, Smolda (Courage Under Fire), a winner of more than $2M in stakes. They are out of the 17 times winner Under The Mattress (Safely Kept), and from a maternal bloodline the Blackshaw family has been breeding from for more than 40 years.

The Cup win was also a home-town victory for Tizzy Lizzie’s Chiltern-based trainer Peter Romero, who works a team of 14 with the assistance of O’Neill.

Romero has continued on from a career-high 25 wins in the 2024 season with four wins and 10 placings, from 33 starters this season.

Tizzy Lizzie is racing in career-best form, with three wins from her past six starts and Romero felt with the right run, she was a big chance in the Cup.

“I grew up in Wangaratta and loved the Wangaratta trots.  They’d have all the fire drums out the back, and my sister and I would run around and roll down the hill here when we were little. They’re good memories, so it’s a great thrill to win it,” he said.

Former South Australian hobby trainer Kim Proctor had every opportunity to enjoy the winning moment in the Reflex Glass/JT Joinery Wangaratta Trotters Cup, with Abitofadreamer scoring an effortless 18 metre victory.

See all the results and replays , click here

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink