Record breaking end to trots season

Imperial Whiz scored the most impressive win at Monday's Warragul trots meeting, giving his rivals a start and a beating in track record time.

 

The four-year-old, prepared at Melton by Danny Mullan and driven by Chris Alford, came off a 60 metre handicap in the trotters event, and dashed around his rivals at the 600 metre mark to put the race quickly beyond doubt.

 

Racing away to win by over 15 metres, Imperial Whiz took a half second off the previous track record time.

Iona trainer Michael Hughes produced Reign Maker to win the first race narrowly.

 

It had been a successful few days for Hughes, who recorded a winner at the Redwood Classic meeting at Maryborough the previous day, while also running second in the Classic race itself with young trotter Is That A Bid.

 

Reign Maker's win was the first of a driving double for reinsman Rod Petroff, who also drove Hypersonic Drive to win race four.

 

Ellmers Hoofing It and Live On Broadway both started almost unbackable favourites in their respective events on Monday, but did the right thing by punters in winning.

 

Husband and wife Greg Sugars and Jess Tubbs combined to win the two-year-old race with Illawong Mustang, while the curiously named three-year-old Arggghhh took on the older horses in the final event of the day, and won easily for Croydon trainer Ray Woods and driver Michael Bellman.

 

Monday's program was the final one in the current Victorian racing season for Warragul – the Gippsland club now goes into recess as far as race meetings are concerned with the next fixture not until Sunday, December 22.