Kiwi trotter back to reclaim crown

The New Zealand star has been in the care of Bolinda trainer Brent Lilley for the past week after arriving in Australia last Wednesday and will shoot for a first-up success in this weekend’s Group 1 feature at Tabcorp Park Melton.

Temporale, a son of Monarchy, has campaigned in Australia during 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020, with his most recent trip capturing the Dullard in dominant fashion.

Lilley told thetrots.com.au that the nine-year-old had settled in nicely since arriving from overseas and looked well ahead of Saturday night’s assignment.

“We can’t fault him at home, he’s a quality horse and right on song,” Lilley said.

“He will be hard to beat right through the next few weeks.”

Those “next few weeks” will likely include a crack at the What The Hill Great Southern Star heats – and potentially final – on February 4 and Aldebaran Park The Knight Pistol on February 12 before possibly heading home.

With no Maori Law in Saturday night’s line-up, Greg Sugars will take the reins behind Temporale, who has drawn gate five for the $50,000 event.

The horse, who is trained by Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett, won seven races during the 2021 season in New Zealand and comes to Australia on the back of two runner-up placings to star Kiwi Bolt For Brilliance.

The Dullard is leg three of the new Aurora Australis series, which is currently led by Im Ready Jet after her wins in the Maori Mile and E B Cochran Trotters Cup.

Anton Golino’s mare is not part of Saturday night’s field, but the race has drawn a quality line-up including stablemate Always Ready, Majestuoso (Andy Gath), Wobelee (Alison Alford), Tough Monarch (Rickie Alchin) and Lotamuscle (Matthew Craven).

Temporale has won 25 of 80 career starts for nearly $700,000 in prizemoney.

To view the fields for Melton on Saturday night click here.

By Tim O’Connor for HRV