Star trotter leads Aussie raid

Group One winning trotter Lovemeto (What The Hill) will be the lead act when harness racing trainer Dylan Ferguson takes a team of three horses to Melbourne on Sunday.

“Lovemeto is going to work at Cambridge on Thursday before the races. If all goes well for Shez Bella (Pegasus Spur) she’ll be on the plane as well and we’re just working through the logistics of Seaclusion (Sweet Lou) going as well,” Ferguson said.

Heats for the Victoria Oaks (Seaclusion) are at Melton on 7^th of October with the $150,000 Final on the 14^th which is the same night as the $75,000 Victoria Trotters Oaks (Shez Bella). Heats of the Victoria Trotters Derby (Lovemeto) will be held on 22^nd October with the $75,000 final run at Maryborough on 29^th October.

Lovemeto impressively won the G1 Northern Trotting Derby at the end of May and Ferguson who co-trains the gelding with Graeme Rogerson says there are no suitable races for the horse in New Zealand.

“It would be nice to race him in our own country, but a rating 70 trotter is pretty well screwed for options. There was a race at Auckland last week that didn’t get off the ground and in the other trotting race there were horses with lower ratings than him starting off 40 metres. For me those options (long handicaps) aren’t viable fora three year old trotter that’s only had a handful of starts.”

Ferguson says he’ll look at giving Lovemeto a lead up race prior to the Derby heats.

“If we can find a suitable lead up race, we’re far better doing that than chasing round either good horses or running off big handicaps in New Zealand.”

Ferguson say he will drive the horses in their Victoria campaign.

“I’ve got my tickets and (am) ready to rock n roll. I’ll be there before the horses. I’ll be driving them at this stage as long as I don’t get suspended again on Thursday night. I’ll have to be on my best behaviour (laughter).”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink