SA Trots - All The Trix

Exciting young squaregaiter All The Trix stamped himself as a future star with a tough win in the 2024 Ladbrokes SA Square Trotters Association Gramel Trotters Cup (2645m) at Globe Derby Park on Saturday.

Trained by Claire Goble at Wasleys and driven by senior reinsman David Smith, All The Trix ($5.50 into 3.50 eq. fav) sat parked in the staying event and held on to win by a long head from Wishing Star ($11) with Regal Attire ($7.50), a short half head away third.

The winner, only a four-year-old, is considered a juvenile in trotting terms with majority of squaregaiters not reaching their peak until around six, and older.

All The Trix was bred and is owned in partnership by Goble and New South Wales council executive Paul Rofe.

Honouring South Australia’s most famous trotter, Gramel, a champion in the 1960s and in a career where she set 23 track records, has taken various guises since being introduced onto the calendar by Harness Racing South Australia in 1971.

It began as a three-race series before losing some of its prestige, and most recently being reinvented as the Gramel Trotters Cup, a race that can now grow to become the favourite it was when the legendary Knight Pistol was a three-time winner, once off a 50-metre handicap and the other two giving away 80-metre starts.

For driver David Smith, 66, it was his first win in the Gramel Cup joining his father Alan who was successful in 1999 with Keystone Rule.

Smith said it had always been his intention to sit outside the leader with All The Trix.

“He had suffered early interference at his last two runs, and also in a trial,” Smith said.

“So I wanted to trot away from his 10-metre handicap, stay wide and out of trouble, then let him trot around to sit parked.

“I sent him to the front 600 metres out and thought I would make the others chase him.

“In the straight I was thinking maybe I went a bit early but when he was aware of the challenges he seemed to find another burst to win.”

All The Trix was Goble’s second win having been successful with Saybia in 2009.

“All The Trix is certainly a talented young trotter and I’m excited about what he can do,” Goble said.

“It is extra to special to have bred him, and it has been a long pathway, as it is with all horses to get him to the track.

“I have to thank Michael Dodd from She-Oak Log who breaks in all my horses – he does a wonderful job breaking them in and they always come back with magnificent manners.

“Also, Greg and in particular Ken, Rogers who drove him early and helped with his race manners.”

Mount Gambier owner-breeder Andrew Clarke, Roseworthy trainer Toby Ryan and his reinsperson wife Lisa celebrated a big double with half-brothers Aintsobad and Ubetonred.

Both horses sat outside the leaders in their races and were tough enough to win.

Aintsobad ($2.40 fav) never really looked likely to win the 2024 Ladbrokes Veterinary Surgeons Cup (2230m) until the final 50 metres when he surged to grab a one metre win from the pacemaker Springfield Affair ($6.50) with Lord Zarias ($15) a similar margin away third.

Driver Lisa Ryan said during the race she had been aware of the front running tactics of Gaita Pullicino on Sorungfield Affair.

“I knew Gaita would apply the pressure over the final lap and I was conscious of not letting her get away from me,” Ryan said.

“On the home turn, with the backmarkers making their runs, I thought we were going to run an honourable third of fourth.

“But he has a real toughness and will to win and lifted over the final stages to score.”

Trainer Toby Ryan said Aintsobad would now run in a heat of the Southern Cross for four-year-old and over entires & geldings on Sunday, November 24.

He added Ubetonred would contest the Southern Cross heat for three-year-old colts and geldings on Saturday, November 23.

“He may not be quite up to the class of a Bay Jim Major for example, but tonight he showed he has earnt the opportunity to have a go,” Ryan said.

“He is an improver and has a toughness which could prove an asset.”

A heavily backed $1.70 favourite, Ubetonred, despite sitting tough, raced away to record a seven-metre win in the Naracoorte & Penola Veterinary Centres Three-Year-Old Pace (1800m) beating The Reginator ($7.50) with Lochinvar Jewells ($6), three metres away third.

Andrew Clarke believes Ubetonred will prove a better horse than Aintsobad.

“From the time I broke him in I felt he had a bit more upside,” Clarke said.

“He had the strength of Aintsobad, and being only three, can only get better.”

Clarke said his broodmare Dulcies Dilemma had just returned a positive test to the stallion Restrepo, the sire of Ubetonred and his other handy pacer Urabadboy.

Two Wells trainer Ryan Hryhorec saturated Saturday’s program with a record 15 starters and came away four training winners and had a driving double.

Top reinswoman Danielle Hill partnered Moops ($2.20 fav) to win the Toby Ryan Equine Veterinary Services Pace (2230m) then Hryhorec drove Sky Fawkes ($1.60 fav) to an all-the-way win in the Kevin & Kay Seymour Pace Final (1800m).

  Hill brought up a driving double bringing Aldebaran Stiles ($7) to a strong win in the Prestige Equine Veterinary Trotters Handicap (2230m) and she made it a treble on the impressive Lochinvar Camaro ($2.50 into $1.65 fav) in the WD & SJ Harbison Pace (1800m).

Hryhorec’s other winner was the talented three-year-old Hezrockinroyalty ($6.50) in the Equus Veterinary Services Pace (1800m) for part-owner-trainer Alan Cronin from Murray Bridge.