Watch Me Now beats big guns at the Big M
Former southerner Watch Me Now has recorded an upset victory in North America. The classy mare, who won the Breeders Stakes at Addington before heading overseas, downed a quality field at the Meadowlands over the weekend that included Horse of the Year Test Of Faith and multiple Group One winner Amazing Dream. Watch Me Now was driven by expat Kiwi champion driver Dexter Dunn. It was her 12th win in 28 starts, her mile rate 1:49. The fastest time of the night was recorded by Nicholas Beach (1:47).
Jimmy Mac wins top gong
Another former southerner Jimmy Mack has been crowned South Australian Horse of the Year. Owned by Merv and Meg Butterworth, Jimmy Mac won seven wins from nine starts since moving from Western Australia. The son of Washington VC had five wins from 10 starts for Brett Gray before heading across the Tasman in 2017.
More money in offing for top earners
Top earners Self Assured and Sundees Son are poised to significantly add to their tallies at Alexandra Park on Friday night. They will start favourite in the Auckland and Rowe Cups respectively. They are currently 1-2 in stakes earners in this country this year with Self Assured at $536,750 after six wins from nine starts, and Sundees Son at $231,625 after seven wins from nine starts.
Big changes at Melton
Victoria’s harness racing headquarters Melton will soon be out of action as major works are undertaken. The lights are being upgraded and the in-field is being revamped. It means all Saturday night metropolitan racing throughout July will take place at Shepparton, Cranbourne, Ballarat, Kilmore and Bendigo.
Elitloppet just days away
The world’s richest and most prestigious trotting race is just days away. The Elitloppet – “the Elite Race” – will be held at Solvala in Sweden on Monday May 30 NZT. Sixteen horses will be involved with the top four from the first two heats going through to the final. The overall stakes on offer is around $1.6m.
Trot Rods finale tonight
The Trot Rods series will have its big finale at Redcliffe in Queensland tonight. There will be 10 heats where five horses will dash for the cash over 947 metres. With the drivers mic’d up and wearing helmet cameras the series is innovative and has proved very popular. The connections of the horse with the fastest lap overall earn a $10,000 bonus. So far that time is 64.64.
