Monbet digs deep to record great win

Harness racing trainer Greg Hope knew in his heart this week that his star young trotter Monbet would face a much stiffer challenge in the final of the Australasian Trotting Championship Final at Tabcorp Park Melton than he had in his heat win at Ballarat a week ago.

With all of his competition having a 20 metre start over Monbet, you didn't have to be a rocket scientist to deduce that the front markers would try to make his task as hard as possible by keeping the pace as hot as possible throughout the contest.

Which is exactly what they did with no let up at any stage of the $50,575 Final as the lead changed a couple of times during the running.

Monbet and driver Ricky May were slow but safely away from their 20 metres handicap but seem to take an eternity to latch on to the back of the bunch with just over two laps to go.

Habibti and Gavin Lang had found the front by then and the tempo was hot but when One Over Da Moon was sent forward three wide by Chris Alford, Monbet followed him around and worked to the death seat with just over a round to go.

Habibti looked to have Monbet in some trouble passing the 400 metres mark but as they straightened for home Ricky asked for a supreme effort and like the champion he is Monbet lifted and mastered Habibti.

Having done all that work throughout the race,Monbet was a sitting duck for the swoopers and they were lead by the outstanding mare Claudys Princess who looked a chance half way up the straight to roll the favourite but Monbet held too many guns in the final 100 metres to record an absolutely sensational win.

Claudys Princess was game in running second not far in front of another solid finisher in El Paco.

But all the honours lay with Monbet.

To give all your competition a 20 metre start, be wide and parked for a greater part of the journey and still win the race like Monbet did is as dominant a performace as you will see.

When you add in the fact that Monbet smashed the track record in the process, you start to realise the enormity of tonights win by Monbet.

The big question post race tonight was would Monbet be back for The Great Southern Star and trainer Greg Hope was still to confirm one way or the other after tonights race.

Harnesslink Media