Reward for Care as ‘green’ trotters delight

Once green horses are now winning their owners plenty of ‘green’, with Keayang Ninja and Dont Care among the two-year-olds’ putting their best feet forward to book tickets to the New Year’s Eve party.

The pair won their colts and geldings heats today at Maryborough, which hosted an all-trotting card for the Aldebaran Park Vicbred Super Series, with the first six across the line qualifying for the December 31 Group 1 finals night at Tabcorp Park Melton.

In his heat, Keayang Ninja sat in the breeze for the last lap and overpowered leader Aldebaran Zeus late, with the pair clearing out from the chasing group.

Reinsman Jason Lee and trainer Paddy Lee co-bred the winner, by Wishing Stone out of Another Clare, with their mum Marg and the driver gave “all credit” to his brother.

“He’s done a wonderful job to keep him right for a long period of time,” Jason said. “He was a very difficult horse early on from weaning stage and breaking in stage, we thought we were going to be in real trouble with him and I didn’t think there was going to be any chance he’d race at two with some of the ways he would carry on.

"His manners were terrible, he was borderline dangerous, so he’s come a long way now and he’s just beautiful to do anything with.”

With today’s win, Keayang Ninja’s won five of his eight starts, including the Group 1 Vicbred Platinum Home Grown Classic, and Jason was optimistic he could add to his trophy haul in the forthcoming final.

“Dream big and you never know,” he said. “He’s probably the best two-year-old trotter I’ve been associated with. I’ve driven a couple of handy baby trotters, but I think this guy’s probably the best one. What he’s done, he’s definitely above average, just on his work at home.”

A lot of excitement also surrounds Dont Care, who held the front from gate one in today’s first heat and never relinquished it.

Reinswoman Ellen Tormey controlled proceedings without pressure throughout, holding Utopia’s sprint lane attack at bay in the closing stages to win for her big group of owners.

“Kate and Alex do a terrific job with their horses,” Tormey said. “This horse is a credit to them. It won and then had a break and I drove it at its first trial back and it did everything wrong.

“He’s just a different horse at the moment and he’s trotting so well. He’s a really green, big horse. I think the older he gets the better he will be. I think he will a really good chance in the final.”

Dont Care was bred by Yabby Dam Farms and snapped up for $11,000 at the 2019 Australasian Premier Trotting Sale, with today bringing his fourth victory and taking his stakes won to almost $40,000.

Dont Care was joined by Utopia, Maestro, Central Otago, Parisian Artiste and Rogue Gentleman in qualifying from the first heat, while Keayang Ninja advanced from the second heat along with Aldebaran Zeus, Bromwich, Kyvalley Hacienda, Bullion Harry and Super Service.

HRV – Michael Howard