Petracca powers through to win Victoria Derby

Gun New South Wales reinsman Cameron Hart loves the business end of the harness racing season, criss crossing the country and New Zealand competing at the elite level – and tonight he has another Group One in his keeping (his 11^th), courtesy of classy three-year-old Petracca (Captaintreacherous).

Petracca captured the Woodlands Stud Group 1 Victoria Derby Final at Melton (Oct 14) thanks to a superb drive by Hart over the 2760 metre trip.

The early lead in the race went to Captain Hammerhead (David Moran), but handed up when Greg Sugars made an early three wide run on The Real Sherlock. Hart made his move with a mile to go, and after reaching the position outside the leader, was given cover by Perfect Class.

“I didn’t want to do much work, and luckily I was able to just poke around, and it all worked out pretty well for us,” Hart said.

Petracca popped out at the top of the straight and used his signature burst of speed to finish too strongly for his rivals.  NSW drivers finished 1-2 for the Emma Stewart camp, with Luke McCarthy on Perfect Class finishing second.  Captain Hammerhead was three metres back in third.

DEELICIOUS!
Petracca grabs the Woodlands Stud Victoria Derby on the line for driver Cam Hart, trainer Emma Stewart and owners Danny and Jo Zavitsanos – a special horse grabs the Group 1! pic.twitter.com/w1cCl8wSbm

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) October 14, 2023

The race was run in a 1:55.9 mile rate (30, 30, 27.1, 27.2).

It was Hart’s first drive on the colt, who took his career victories to 10 from 13 starts, and career earnings to $196,000.

“I am so lucky with the opportunities I have been given over the past couple of years – to get on a horse like this for the first time in the derby is pretty unbelievable,” Hart said.

With 176 wins for the season, the leading NSW reinsman Hart picked up the drive on Petracca when the Emma Stewart stable’s number one reinsman Mark Pitt elected to drive The Lost Storm.

The Lost Storm was a disappointing third in his heat, but Pitt, who has driven the pacer throughout his career, elected to stick with him, even in the face of his poor barrier 12 draw.  The Lost Storm ran on only moderately to finish sixth.

Something was clearly amiss with the race favorite, The Real Sherlock raced roughly on the final turn and dropped out to finish at the tail of the field.

Petracca is owned by one of Australia’s biggest harness racing owners Danny Zavitsanos, of Geelong, who declared it was his first derby victory.

“I’ve won a lot of races, but never a derby before,” he said.

Zavitsanos, a staunch AFL Melbourne Demons supporter, named three of horses after star players when the Demons won the AFL premiership in 2021 – including Petracca after brilliant midfielder Christian Petracca.

For complete race results, click here.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink