The key to $61 winner

His starting odds may have been $61 but harness racing driver Michael Bellman was always confident in Sundons Courage heading into Friday night’s Breeders Crown Graduate Trotters Free-For-All at Melton.

The son of Sundon showed explosive finishing speed to claim the $35,000 Group 2 feature and cause the massive upset.

“I’ve driven a couple of winners at big odds before like $140 and I always say the formguides don’t matter,” said Bellman.

“This guy has been chomping on their heels of late and he really deserves this win as he has been luckless his last few.

“He’s got a couple of strings to his bow and got it tonight . . . these are great races to win.”

Sundons Courage had not won a race since November last year and connections have found the key to the eight-year-old horse.

“Not using his early gatespeed has helped him and it’s only been due to his barriers that it’s been this way,” said Bellaman.

And that was the case with this victory.

Drawn inside the second row, Bellman and Sundons Courage ended up four back along the pegs at one stage.

Heading into the home turn the final time, Bellman angled Sundons Courage up the track where he produced a big finishing burst to overcome the final two quarters in 28.6 and 28.9 seconds to win by more than two metres.

Wobelee and The Penny Drops filled the minors and the favourite Majestuoso finishing fourth in a mile rate of 1:58.8.

By Amanda Rando for Harnesslink