Interstate trip on the cards for Vatican Green
Senior South Australian reinsman Anthony Robinson revealed a ‘bucket list item’ following his win on Vatican Green at Globe Derby Park on Saturday night.
Robinson, 68, was seen at his best with a flashing win on Vatican Green in the Bargain Steel Centre Pace (1800m).
Coming with a brilliant sprint down the outside, the $34 outsider arrived in time to beat the red-hot $1.22 favourite Lochinvar Leader by a half head with Per Ardua Ad Astra ($126), a neck away third.
Robinson, who has driven for more than 50 years landing in excess of 1000 wins, said he was considering a Victorian trip with Vatican Green.
“I have driven winners in Melbourne at the old Melbourne Showgrounds and also Moonee Valley so it would be nice to win a race at Melton,” Robinson said.
“There are only a handful of drivers to have achieved victories at Melbourne’s premier venues so it would be a bit special to join them.
“I have retired now and just work with my horses so if I can have a couple going well enough I would like to head to Melton, be it later this year or early next year.
“Vatican Green is a nice horse but has to be driven for one sprint.
“He had absolutely no luck last week being held up badly when fifth behind Lochinvar Leader, but his own sectionals were very good.
“I knew tonight if he had any luck he would be hard to hold off.
“There was a nice tempo throughout, and it was just a case of getting a run coming off the back and everything worked out well and he arrived just in time.”
Vatican Green was purchased mid-2023 by Robinson and his wife Tonya and has now won 13 races for them collecting in excess of $63,000.
Prospective owners looking for a purchase could do well to look at Midnight Chimes, winner of the Bianco Reinforcing Pace (1800m).
Owner-trainer Mal Bagnato said he had to sell the mare because he was being forced to quite harness racing.
“I have a degenerative back condition which will prevent me from training horses,” Bagnato said.
“I have been trying to sell Midnight Chimes and am amazed I have not even had an inquiry.”
At Globe Derby Park, driver David Smith had the four-year-old mare, a $17 chance, perfectly placed one-out, one-back in the run before coming strongly in the straight to grab a neck win from tough $1.80 favourite Stylistik with Our Ultimate Lois ($7.50), 3-1/2 metres away third.
Smith was forced to steer the mare out over the final stages as she was tending to hang in.
Bagnato explained that Midnight Chimes had an issue with her mouth which had been diagnosed when she came into his stable.
“I’ve been working on her mouth, and it is getting better each week, but I don’t think it will be right for possibly another month.
“I am really sad to being giving it away because this mare is the fastest I have trained.
“But my back is so bad I have think about my future health. I love harness racing and it is going to be very sad to get out of the sport.”
Reinsman David Smith brought up a driving double when Tonkawaikon led throughout in the Kevin & Kay Seymour Pace (1800m).
Tonkawaikon ($21) scored comfortably by 2-1/2 metres from Alwaysbealady ($4.80) with Classic Line ($34), three metres away third.
The winner is owned by the trainer, Smith’s wife Ingrid who obtained her from stable clients Jamie Braidwood and Chris Dix who last month celebrated a big win in the Inter Dominion Trotters Consolation with their top mare Ikigai.
Tonkawaikon has now won 12 races and picked up $78,000 in stakes.
Favourite in the race was classy three-year-old Hez So Royal backed from $1.80 into $1.60.
Driver Ryan Hryhorec allowed the gelding to balance up from gate four and settled at the tail of the field before coming wide with 600 metres to travel.
Unfortunately, as he was progressing forward, the gelding broke into a gallop and dropped out finishing last.
The bright spot on Saturday for Hryhorec was the win by Our Indifference in the Garrards Horse And Hound Pace (2230m).
Well backed at $3, Our Indifference showed excellent gate speed to lead from gate four and from then on Hryhorec dictated the tempo.
He recorded a pedestrian 33.2 second first quarter of the last 1600 metres, before increasing for a 30.7 second quarter then allowing the gelding to run a sensational 55.4 second last 800 metres which made it impossible for his rivals to catch him.
Our Indifference won by 2-1/2 metres from My Silver Spoon ($8) which chased the winner throughout with Last Tango In Heaven ($2 fav), a stablemate of the winner a similar margin away third.
“He has caught me a bit by surprise,” Hryhorec said.
“When he came into the stable I wondered how to place him, but he really has stepped up.
“He has really good gate speed as he showed tonight which will help him in his races. And he is also tough and can do a job.
“Tonight he sprinted really strongly which is another good asset.”
- Story Graham Fischer
- Photo Walter Bulyga