Big night for winners at Port Pirie Grand Final night
The outstanding win by Lord Zarias at Port Pirie on Saturday brought up a significant milestone for trainer Ryan Hryhorec.
It was Hryhorec’s 100th South Australian training success in 2025, the first time he has prepared a century of winners in a season.
The Two Wells-based mentor burst onto the SA trainer’s premiership in 2014 and won seven titles in a row through to 2019/20 with a season best of 88 winners.
He won the 2024 premiership with 90 winners, and now in 2025 is setting record numbers reaching 100 on Saturday with three months of the season to go.
Lord Zarias was brilliant in his 2-1/2 metre victory in the Solomontown FC 2025 Premiers Pacing Feature (2530m).
Driven by Gaita Pullicino, Lord Zarias found the front from gate four and recorded outstanding sectionals making the opposition chase hard.
The seven-year-old ran quick 58.9 seconds first half of the last 1600 metres, increased the tempo with a 27.4 second third quarter coming home in 29.1 seconds for an overall rating of 1:56.7.
A $7 chance, Lord Zarias beat Delightfull Tammy ($6.50) which chased him throughout with Bellezza Nera ($1.50 fav), eight metres away third.
“It is special to bring up 100 winners and I was happy for Lord Zarias to be the horse to bring up the century,” Hryhorec said.
“He has been a great horse for the stable since coming across from Queensland winning a Ladbrokes Cup along with Port Pirie and Victor Harbor Cups.
“I told Gaita I thought he had the gate speed to lead and to let him run along.
“I was surprised how quick he was going and thought he might be suspect at the trip, but it was an amazing performance.
“I’m sure he can be competitive in the Cup races coming up over the next few months.”
Hryhorec also had Last Tango In Heaven (4th) and Betterzippit (6th) in the race.
“Last Tango In Heaven is slowly improving while I did not drive Betterzippit well trying to go forward when the speed was on mid-race.”
Hryhorec had a training double at Port Pirie with Ebonys Avenger winning the HP Equipment Hire Trotters Feature (2530m).
After working to find the front, Ebonys Avenger ($6.50), driven by Michael Smith, scored a half neck win from stablemate Regal Attire ($3 fav) with Kyvalley Heist ($5) a metre away third.
“She has been a very good horse during her career and did a tough job to win,” Hryhorec said.
“Michael had to drive hard to find the front which made her it a bit vulnerable late, but she toughed it out well.
“I thought Regal Attire was great coming off a 20-metre handicap and look forward to the upcoming trotting features.”
Hryhorec had a scary drive on Aldebaran Dexta in that event.
One of his footrests snapped off with a lap to go nearly tipping him out of the sulky but he regained his balance and completed the race.
While he did not drive either of his two training winners, Hryhorec drove a winner at the meeting landing Daisy Bouchea in the CLM Quarries Trotters Handicap (2050m) for trainer Peta Brown.
The $2.70 favourite, Daisy Bouchea came from three back on the fence to dash up the sprint lane grab a half neck win from stablemate Our Spitfire ($4.20) with Twixten ($4.60), two metres away third.
Driver Terry Brown, husband of the trainer, thought he had victory on Our Spitfire early in the home straight.
“I knew I had the horses outside me beaten, then I heard a horse coming on my inside,” Brown said.
“I took a quick glance and saw it was Daisy, and I knew she would go close.
“She has a really nice sprint, and after being held up, was always going to come fast which she did.
“I am pleased for the mare’s owners Natasha Raven and Jason Ainsworth from Victoria.”
Broken Hill-trained Itz Blackjack was victorious in one of the exciting finishes in the One Stop Water Shop Pace (2050m).
Driven by Corey Johnson, Itz Blackjack ($6) put in a tough performance to score by a half head from Lunchinheaven ($51) with Ohso Kinky ($2.90 fav) a neck away third.
The winner is part-owned and trained by Ashleigh Camilleri.
Trainer-driver Samantha Hill came with a strong run on My Ultimate Flynn to claim victory in the Afford Engineering Pace (2050m).
My Ultimate Flynn ($4) trailed through from gate seven to sit on the back of Big Black Betty ($3.70), driven by Hill’s husband Wayne, which had led from gate one.
Using the sprint, the four-year-old gelding dashed through to score by a half neck from Big Black Betty with Magic Storm ($3.20 fav), 3-1/2 metres away third.
- Story Graham Fischer
- Photo Lyndall White