SA Trots - Reoffender too good in Park Classic.

Star young trotter Reoffender gave his rivals a massive start and still proved too good in the Imperial Count USA @ Bellmoure Park 2024 Parker Classic (1800m) at Globe Derby Park.

A stunned owner-breeder Geoff Easom said “that was Minor Derby stuff” in reference to the champion pacer who often gave his rivals starts of up to 100 metres around the tiny Wayville track but was good enough to grab victories.

Co-trainer Jill Neilson, who trains in partnership Katie Wilson, believes Reoffender could be the best trotter she has trained while Wilson is an awe of the gelding’s potential.

The Parker Classic is a standing start for two-year-olds and only over 1800 metres, a distance considered a sprint for trotters.

A winner of two of his three starts, and beaten a short half head in his loss, Reoffender was a red hot $1.45 favourite for the feature, and began slowly, but safely, for reinsman Wayne Hill from gate two.  

However, heading into the first turn, Reoffender galloped, and it took Hill a short distance to get the gelding back into a trot by which time the leader Sunny Majesty ($7) had gained a massive advantage.

Hill explained the recently renovated track surface and caused the favourite to break.

“He got away okay and was starting to gain momentum going into the turn,” Hill said.

“But the track surface is still loose on top, and my bike started to shift slightly up the track, and it confused him causing him to gallop because he is still very inexperienced.

“I know how much talent he has so I was always going to try and catch the leaders, even though he was up to 100 metres away.

“I had given up home of a win,” Easom said, while Neilson said she thought Hill would look after the trotter, but they had not allowed for the trotter’s talent, and the driver’s determination.

Reoffender took a lap to catch up to the body of the field but going into the back straight, Sunny Majesty and Feel The Moment ($4.40) with a 30-second, second quarter had established a good break.

However, the favourite was still trotting strongly and came up behind the leaders coming off the back.

Sunny Majesty beat off Feel The Moment turning for home and driver David Smith was probably thinking he had the win but Hill steered Reoffender into the sprint lane and quickly gathered in the leader to win by 1-1/2 metres.

 The win was the culmination of an incredible day for Neilson.

She started the day celebrating the 90^th birthday of her mother Elma West, who herself had harness highlights with Cassius Court and Deep Court, champions of the 1960s.

In the afternoon, a fire near her Penfield stables, and close to the Edinburgh Air Force Base, threatened to wreak havoc but 38 trucks, supported by water bombers, eased the tension allowing Neilson and later Wilson to take their horses to Globe Derby Park.

Heston Blue Streak ($12) started the night off on a winning note leading throughout for driver Danielle Hill before Reoffender won giving the training partnership of Neilson and Wilson a double.

Neilson said Reoffender would now be readied for the Southern Cross series later in the month.

Dani Hill later brought up a double winning on Delightful Major for trainer David Harding in the Globe Derby Life Members Pace (1800m) while Wayne Hill also landed a double winning on La Moth for trainer Aaron Bain in the Kevin And Kay Seymour Pace (1800m).

For Wayne Hill, it was an early wedding present as he will marry fellow trainer-driver Samantha Pascoe on Sunday.

Some long price bets were landed when Night Spirit finished best in the Ladbrokes Bert Ticker Pace (2230m).

Trained by Reece Moore and driven by Gaita Pullicino, Night Spirit firmed late from $41 into $14.

The seven-year-old pushed through to lead from gate one but Whata Optimist ($9) was urged forward by Bernadette Page from gate three, and after a short tussle, assumed control.

On the home turn, Pullicino eased Night Spirit off the inside and the gelding sprinted strongly to catch Whata Optimist and win by 4-1/2 metres.

Moore missed the win as he had gone back to his Penfield stables to pick up other runners for later in the night and returned to learn of the win five minutes after the race.

The trainer said he had relocated from Merbein in Victoria and now had nine horses in work at the stables originally used by the champion trainer Lance Justice.

“I am also working six days a week for trainer Ryan Hryhorec, so I have busy days,” Moore said.

“If you want to have success you have to put in the hours. I am looking to build a successful stable here in South Australia.”

Another impressive winner on Saturday was the in-form trotter My Bad Habits in the Skyvalley @ Aldebaran Park Trotters Mobile (2230m).

Backed from $2.50 into $1.80 favourite, My Bad Habits was taken forward to sit parked by driver Bernadette Page and proved too strong in the home straight to win by a metre from Majestic Tilly ($12) with Buckles ($13), 1-1/2 metres away third.

The winner was bred, is owned and trained by Matt Maguire.

A winner of Kapunda Trotters Cup four starts earlier, My Bad Habits now has 14 wins and nine placings from just 50 starts.

Maguire said he would probably freshen the five-year-old for suitable races at the end of the year.

• Graham Fischer