Above: Greg Sugars won the $10,000 Victoria Trotters Derby third heat on board Gentlemans Honour at the Cranbourne Harness Racing Club’s Christmas in July meeting.By Stuart Teather
CHRISTMAS came early to Cranbourne Harness Racing Club on Saturday night, with a traditional dinner preparing punters for a night of quality racing at the Christmas in July meeting.
A crowd of 1100 turned up for the event, an increase on last year, and chief executive David Scott said the evening was a success.
“We’re delighted with the attendance,” he said. “We’re very pleased with the result, and particularly with the atmosphere.”
Punters sat down to a traditional Christmas dinner, then stayed around after the race for a disco.
The big drawcard of the night was race three – the third and final heat of the Victoria Trotters Derby.
Michael Calaz-trained Gentlemans Honour took out the $10,000 race, with My Mate Mal five metres back in second and Won’t Be The Same in third.
All three horses will contest the $75,000 Group 1 final on Sunday in Maryborough.
“It was a great race,” Scott said. “(Gentlemans Honour) should be competitive (in the final) against what is a crack field.
“Danny Bouchea and I Didn’t Do It will both be hard to beat.”
The other highlight of the night was driver Jodi Quinlan winning a double, on Configuration in the Trios Tabaret Pace and hot favourite Jazzam in the Cranbourne Pace.
The two victories put Quinlan one point ahead of second-placed Chris Alford in the Driver of the Year award.
Alford himself had a successful night on Saturday, winning the Caufield Pace on New Zealand horse Budding Christian.
The Cranbourne Harness Racing Club has two twilight Sunday race meets coming up on 10 and 24 August.
The 24 August meeting will include the heats of the $12,000 Australian Pacing Gold XVII race, with the final at Moonee Valley worth $100,000.
