SA Trots - Weekend wrap from Globe Derby
A 12-month plan by Mount Gambier trainer-driver Robert Shepherd returned the major dividend when Jades Hope scored an easy win at Globe Derby Park on Saturday.
Backed from $1.50 into $1.22 favourite, Jades Hope led through in the 2024 Allenby Lodge & SAHRC SA Sires Stakes Classic (1800m), a race restricted to two-year-olds by South Australian-based stallions.
Shepherd took possible bad luck out of the equation on Saturday allowing her to find the front in the field of four.
He recorded a pedestrian first half of the last 1600 metres in 69.2 seconds before sprinting home in 57.7 seconds to win by eight metres from Agirl With Secrets ($8.50) with Ruthless Offender ($6), a half-metre away third.
“I saw the corresponding race at Port Pirie last year had only five acceptors and thought it would be a perfect target for my filly this year,” Shepherd said.
The Jades Hope story goes back to 2017 when Shepherd drove a filly called Annies Heart for trainer Ray Lattin.
“She had nine starts for four seconds, including one in a Golden Nursery Prelude at Globe Derby Park,” Shepherd said.
“But she had dicky legs and had to be retired and after talking with Ray I decided to bring her home to live out her life.
“I was helping out trainer Greg Howard, driving trackwork, and he said he would give me a service for Cullens Hope for my work and I decided to use it for Annies Heart and Jades Hope is the result.
“Saturday’s win was very special. I’ve been in and out of the sport for a fair while so to breed, train and drive a Sires Stakes winner was a career highlight.”
Jades Hope is a family affair being owned by Shepherd, his wife Susan and their children Bianca and Tyson.
“When I put in names for the filly they all had a family connection with Jade being Bianca’s second name and I’m very happy with the result.”
Shepherd said he was likely to give the filly a month off before a short campaign at Mount Gambier next year, another break and ready her for the good three-year-old races in Adelaide late next year.
The most amazing win of the night was recorded by Vatican Green in the Kevin & Kay Seymour Pace (2230m).
Trained and driven by Anthony Robinson, Vatican Green gave the leader Royal Watch a conservative 30 metre start turning for home and finished so quickly he arrived in the last stride to score a short half head victory.
Punters who backed Royal Watch from $7 into $1.35 favourite, would have been counting the cash when driver Ryan Hryhorec sent him well clear off the back straight and looking in an unassailable position.
Meanwhile, Robinson was extricating Vatican Green from a pocket and getting ready to take out after the leader.
“I am not going to say I thought he would win turning for home, but I knew he would at least run a close second,” Robinson said.
“He has a really quick sprint when things go his way, and I knew he would come quickly.
“Early on I dropped down to trail the leader Justcallmeangus. I knew it was a $151 chance but hoped it might be able to get me to the sprint lane, but I was wrong.
“When Ryan (Hryhorec) was going for home I was trying to get clear after the leader dropped back in my lap and I certainly did away a big start.
“My horse did let down brilliantly and I arrived just in time.”
Vatican Green ($4.80) beat Royal Watch with Alive And Free ($23), seven metres away third.
The win brought up a double for Robinson who took out the Ladbrokes Mates Mode Pots Pace (2230m) with Lifeisbutadream.
The $3.70 equal favourite, Lifeisbutadream was taken to the front by Robinson and held on to win by a neck from Star Of Willoughby ($3.70 eq fav) with Heston Blue Streak ($6.50) a metre away third.
“He has been racing quite well and deserved the win,” Robinson said.
“He was far from disgraced at his previous run when fourth to Toby’s (Ryan) good horse (Aintsobad) in the Southern Cross final, so when he found the front he was always going to be hard to beat.”
Robinson said both horses would likely be nominated for the non-penalty Australian Drivers Championship Series races at Globe Derby Park on Sunday, December 29.
Penfield trainer Ingrid Smith supplied the quinella in a family affair result in the Skyvalley NZ @ Aldebaran Park Trotters Handicap (2230m).
Sir Ed ($9), driven by her son Michael, scored a half neck win from Buckles ($5.50), driven by her husband David.
Credit to father and son, who both had their drives away brilliantly off 20-metre handicaps.
Sir Ed began so fast he was able to settle second, outside the leader Our Spitfire, while Buckles took the trail, one-out, one-back.
Michael Smith let Sir Ed trot to the front coming off the back with its stablemate in hot pursuit.
Buckles looked likely to run down Sir Ed, but the latter refused to yield.
Trainer Ryan Hryhorec is in sight of 100 wins for the season, despite being forced to sit out a three-month break.
Rakero Blaze too his tally to 87 with a comfortable win in the Santa @ Globe December 21 Trotters Handicap (2230m).
A red hot $1.30 favourite, Rakero Blaze cruised him seven metres clear of Andoverlov ($19) with Savvy Kyvalley ($16), 15 metres away third,
He has five meetings to grab those 13 wins.
- Graham Fischer
- Photo Walter Bulyga