Muscle Mountain climbs to new heights

Muscle Mountain (Muscle Hill) reached remarkable heights this afternoon when he won his fourth Ashburton Trotters Sprint.

That sort of record is unheard of in modern day harness racing and is testimony to the horse’s ability and management.

“He’s just been a super horse for a long time and testament to Mum (Nina) and Dad (Greg) and how well they’ve looked after him. He’s eight years old and he’s still not far from the top of his game,” driver and now co-trainer Ben Hope said.

From gate two Muscle Mountain was taken to the top before Bet N Win came looking.

“I would have been happy enough to hold the front but Bet N Win came with a bit of venom. I was confident I could come off his back and being the fact that he hadn’t raced for a while I thought I might be able to get him.”

Coming out of the last bend Hope looked to have a handful of horse.

“He was bolting round the bend. I knew Bet N Win wouldn’t be easy to get past. I elected not to go in the passing lane because I thought a few of the horses that have come up the lane today hadn’t been able to get to the leader. I thought I’d try something different and we got the job done.”

MUSCLE MOUNTAIN REPLAY 

At the end of the 1700 trotting feature Muscle Mountain had a half a length to spare over Bet N Win with another half a length back to another Hope runner, Mr Love.

Muscle Mountain’s next target will be the $400,000 Renwick Farms Dominion Trot on Cup Day.

“I’m very respectful of all the Aussies coming over and Bet N Win will be improved after that run. And then there’s Oscar, (Oscar Bonavena) so it’s not going to be easy, but yes he can.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink