Love You youngster makes clean sweep

Brilliant Love You two-year-old Valtino completed a clean sweep of the Haras Des Trotteurs Nutrien Equine Classic series when he took out the $62,500 harness racing final at Bendigo on Friday night (Aug 11).

The colt led from go to whoa to post his third success from only eight outings.

Val Thorens (by Volstead) finished an unlucky third.

New South Wales trainer Blake Fitzpatrick teams up with top local driver Greg Sugars to win the $62,500 Haras des Trotteurs Nutrien Equine Classic (2YO Trotting Colts and Geldings) Final thanks to Valtino! pic.twitter.com/C155Qj7I4Q

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) August 11, 2023

The Haras Des Trotteurs’ sires Orlando Vici and Love You produced the winners of both trotting features at Melton on Saturday night (August 12).

Ollivici, a New Zealand bred son of Orlando Vici, led throughout in the Maori’s Idol Free-for-all, while Aroha Koe (by Love You) outsprinted his rivals in the $30,000 Winter Trotters Cup, his seventh win for the season.

Ollivici, who rated a career-best 1:57 for 1720 metres, has won 12 of his 25 starts for $141,150 in stakes.

Love You, ranked second on both the NZ and Australian sire lists, was also represented by Keayang Chucky (Yarra Valley), So Vogue (Globe Derby Park) and the Addington winner Galleon’s Ambassador.

Volstead, Australia’s leading first season sire and second on the two-year-old premiership, picked up his sixth credit when the two-year-old Tunbridge was a very impressive winner at Kilmore on Sunday night (August 13).

by Peter Wharton, for Harnesslink