It was a massive night of racing last Friday at Tabcorp Park Melton, with a number of elite trotting and pacing events taking place in the course’s first meeting of 2010. Aside from the headline race of the night, the $50 000 V L Dullard Trotting Cup won by Don King, there were also three feature pacing events including the $25 000 Harness Breeders VIC Gold Chalice.
The Wayne Potter-trained Morgan Abby ($8.60) claimed victory in the Gold Chalice by the smallest of margins in her debut race as a three-year-old, finishing just a short-half-head in front of Stunin Girl ($5.50), with a gallant I’m A Happy Girl ($10.30) just a half-head back in third.
The Aces N Sevens filly clocked a sensational mile rate of 1:59.9 securing her third victory from four starts this season brining her career record to a total of five wins from 13 starts for over $70 000 in prizemoney.
Friday night’s win was a determined and impressive one, as Morgan Abby overcame her wide front-row start and early run towards the back of the pack to take the lead on the straight and hold on ahead of her fellow female rivals.
It was a disappointing finish for the $2.40 favourite, Lady Belladonna only managing to finishing fifth behind fourth placegetter Peaces Of You.
2010 Harness Breeders VIC Gold Chalice Results:
Placing |
Horse |
Prizemoney |
Row & Barrier |
Trainer |
Driver |
Margin (m) |
| 1 |
MORGAN ABBY |
$16 875 | Fr6 | W R Potter | J N Quinlan | - |
| 2 |
STUNIN GIRL |
$3 750 | Fr5 | S M Hunter | G Lang | SHFHD |
| 3 |
IM A HAPPY GIRL |
$2 500 | Fr7 | D A Kennedy | J J Alchin | HFHD |
| 4 |
PEACES OF YOU |
$1 250 | Fr2 | D G Crone | K E Manning | 1.70 |
| 5 |
LADY BELLADONNA |
$625 | Sr3 | S B Gilligan | N A McCalum | 3.00 |
| 6 |
DEFINITE GIRL |
- | Fr1 | L Miles | L Miles | 4.00 |
| 7 |
HILTON BROMAC |
- | Fr4 | G A O’Connell | N L Milne | 4.10 |
| 8 |
MISS TRICKIN LOMBO |
- | Fr3 | J E Davies | C A Alford | 4.80 |
| 9 |
LEFT IN PARIS |
- | Sr2 | D Thackeray | A E Tubbs | 5.00 |
| 10 |
LANDSCAPEARTIST |
- | Sr1 | K L Wright | M I Stanley | 9.40 |