South East trotter takes out Country Cups Trotters Final at Port Pirie
Mount Gambier-trained Stockman Peter ran a track record in taking out the 2026 $26,000 Hazell Bros Port Pirie Trotters Cup (2530m) on Saturday.
Driven by Corey Johnson, Stockman Peter ($4.60) rated 2:01.4 from his 20-metre handicap to beat the previous best by 0.1, set by Im Princess Sophie on March 25, 2017.
The seven-year-old scored by four metres from another South-East-trained trotter Meadow Valley Star ($2.50 fav) with All The Trix ($8), three metres away third.
The winner is trained by David Phillips for the successful ownership group of Mick Lamond, the butcher, John Lamond, the pastoralist and Commercial Hotel owner Peter Lamond.
They purchased the trotter from Victoria in August 2024 and Saturday’s Pirie Trotters Cup success was his best for the stable.
Trainer David Phillips stayed home to watch the race, sending his son Mark on the long journey to Port Pirie with Stockman Peter.
“No need for two of us, someone had to stay home and work the rest of the team,” Phillips said.
“Besides my wife is coming home from Queensland on Tuesday and I promised her a nice, big crayfish.”
True to his word, Phillips, 71, was out on a boat on Sunday morning crayfishing.
Stockman Peter began nicely from his handicap and Johnson was ale to settle him two back in the running line early.
When the favourite came from the back with a lap and a half to go, Johnson came out and allowed his horse to trot to the front with a lap to go.
Meadow Valley Star, on his back, galloped in the home straight losing about 20 metres, which proved crucial at the finish.
Aldebaran Dexta and All The Trix came up to challenge off the back, but Stockman Peter was going too well and established a winning break.
Meadow Valley Star came wide again and gave chase but was never likely to catch the winner.
Phillips said there was a chance Stockman Peter would be back at Globe Derby Park this Saturday for the $11,000 Fred Jones Trotters Cup (2230m).
However, he felt the seven-year-old could end up racing in Western Australia.
“It is too tough coming off big handicaps and it would better for him in Perth,” the trainer said.
Matt Horsnell, trainer of Meadow Valley Star, was philosophical.
“We gave away a 20-metre handicap to the winner at the start, then lost another 20 metres with a gallop in the run – it proved just too much,” Horsnell said.
“Provided he does well, he will be back for the Fred Jones Trotters Cup.”
Both the winner and runner-up trialled at Mount Gambier on April 12 off level marks with Stockman Peter winning by a neck from Meadow Valley Star in a mile rate which would have broken the track record.
Another Port Pirie highlight was the win by the SA BOTRA-syndicated two-year-old, South Aussie Star.
Trained and driven by Ryan Hryhorec, South Aussie Star ($1.65 fav) had a tough battle with It’s a Wash ($8.50) before winning by a half neck in the 2026 Harbison Performance SA BOTRA 2YO Kindergarten Series heat five (1609m).
The filly is expected to run at Globe Derby on Saturday in the $16,000 Kindergarten Stakes Final (1800m).
- Story Graham Fischer
- Photo Lyndall White