Victorian mare wins thrilling Club Menangle Trotters Cup

Victorian mare Virginia Clowers (Creatine) gave a gritty harness racing performance to win a very open Group 3 $33,000 Club Menangle Trotters Cup at Menangle Park last night. 

The New Zealand bred four year old mare who only started racing in January 2023 was having her first outing since finishing 4th at Melton over two months. She is trained by prolific trotting master Brent Lilley who is based in Bolinda and has had great success in targeting selected races at Menangle Park. 

Driven by Bailey McDonough who is now in Sydney Virginia Clowers settled mid field.

Toro Stride one of two runners for Joe and Mary Rando flew the tapes and driver Jim Douglass was able to take the lead after about 400 metres. The Rando’s other runner Leaf Stride from the pole position settled three back on the rails. 

Virginia Clowers commenced safely and was mid field early but as the field started to bunch up along the long back straight started to make up ground on the leaders. At the 400 metre mark with a third quarter of 28.8 Virginia Clowers got the better of Toro Stride.

The ever consistent Funky Monkey was making up steady ground wide with Speedy Lover also prominent. In the meantime Leaf Stride was pushed further back and driver Cameron Hart was forced to go to the inside to try and make a race of it.

VIRGINIA CLOWERS REPLAY

However Virginia Clowers hung on in a desperate finish to prevail by half a head from an unlucky Leaf Stride with Funky Monkey a credible third. 

Virginia Clowers should continue to make her presence felt in similar company although at this stage she may not be up to Inter Dominion class this season.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink