Volstead sires Holmfield first four

Exicting three-year-old trotter Derek The Jet (Volstead) kept his unbeaten harness racing record in tact when he led all the way in the Group 3 The VHRC Holmfield at Melton.

First up since April, Derek The Jet ($1.40 fav) had sufficient early speed to hold out Pinnie who was able to drop in and take the trail on the back of the leader and the pair appeared set to fight out the finish a long way from home.

Pinnie tried valiantly to bridge the gap in the home straight however, under the urgings of Nathan Jack, Derek The Jet had something in reserve to score by three metres from Pinnie with Ikigai nine metres away third.

The race highlighted the dominance of leading juvenile trotting stallion Volstead who sired five of the first six horses across the line including the first four.

Jack said the son of Volstead is still to hone his craft.

“He was good but he is really inexperienced yet and still learning and at the winning post he went to run out the gate and then went to switch gait,” Jack said.

“He is still a work in progress but his ability is untapped,” he said.

Jack was pleased with the way his charge left the mobile barrier.

“He showed gate speed on his own and that was an impressive thing because he hasn’t been asked to do that before, Pinnie is quite quick out and to be able to hold her out tonight was quite impressive,” he said.

Derek The Jet remains unbeaten after his brilliant victory in the Group 3 VHRC Homefield for trainer-driver Nathan Jack. pic.twitter.com/nl3opt8GKi

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) August 24, 2024

Derek The Jet is unbeaten in five starts and will be aimed at the upcoming Vicbred Super Series.

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink