Not As Promised takes Victorian Trotters Derby

Gun young Queensland reinsman Nathan Dawson capped off a successful southern states visit when he steered Not As Promised (Betting Line) to harness racing victory in the Group 1 Victorian Trotters Derby Final at Maryborough. 

Fresh from taking out the Australian Drivers Championship in Launceston last weekend, Dawson produced a gem of a drive aboard the $41 chance Not As Promised from an awkward second row alley. 

Not As Promised settled buried towards the rear on the pegs however Dawson seized the opportunity to make a mid-race move circling the field to join the leader and $2.50 favorite Lovetome with a lap to travel. 

Not As Promised trotted to the lead on straightening and appeared set for a comfortable win before the rank outsider Prince Of Rock ($151) emerged out of the pack to give chase. 

Prince Of Rock gathered in the leader over the concluding stages however the winning post loomed too soon and Not As Promised got the verdict by a short half head win with an unlucky The Locomotive two metres away third in a mile rate of 1:59.6. 

ONE FOR THE QUEENSLANDERS!
Graham Dwyer and Nathan Dawson team up to claim the Haras des Trotteurs Victoria Trotters Derby in a thriller as Not As Promised noses out Prince Of Rock to win the Group 1 from Maryborough! pic.twitter.com/I94AbmW78q

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) October 29, 2023

Dawson admitted the race didn’t pan out as he expected, 

“I didn’t really see it playing out that way but a lot of the good ones were tucked away along the pegs so I made the most of that, and if I was good enough so be it,” Dawson said.  

“I wasn’t worried about the trip, it was just about getting a good run and it worked out well for us,” he said.’ 

The winner is trained by Graham Dwyer in Brisbane and it appears Victorian race goers will have the opportunity to see more of the pacing bred son of Betting Line according to Dawson. 

“It was more to see what he did today but I’m sure after that he will be staying down here,” he said. 

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink