A driving masterclass by Ryan Hryhorec enabled Lord Zarias to take out the 2025 Tyrepower Victor Harbor Pacing Cup (2160m) on Sunday, March 9.
A beaten favourite at $1.60 last year, Lord Zarias ($2.40 fav) scored a head win this year from Bellezza Nera ($3.20) with Delightfull Tammy ($13), two metres away third.
It was Hryhorec’s decision making which was crucial in the win.
Lord Zarias came out quickly from gate four and found the lead with Artillery from barrier five also coming forward to sit parked.
As the field went down the back straight, Lisa Ryan on Delightfull Tammy came three wide seeking to take the spot outside the lead but Paul Cavallaro, driving Artillery, wasn’t going to let her in.
Rather than get into a “war”, Hryhorec let Artillery take the lead with Delightfull Tammy outside the lead and Lord Zarias settled third.
When the pressure came from runners back in the field, Delightfull Tammy was able to take the lead, with Bellezza Nera finishing strongly three wide and Hezrockinroyalty challenging four wide.
Hryhorec could see Artillery was not going to get him to the sprint lane, so he angled off behind Delightfull Tammy turning for home.
Bellezza Nera was looking a possible winner but Lord Zarias sprinted strongly, and the pair had a stirring battle but the latter got the judge’s nod.
“I have to admit I wasn’t sure about what to do early,” Hryhorec said.
“I don’t think he has been beaten in SA when he has led, but I also know he has a lethal turn of foot coming off a sit.
“He travelled well, then at the 400 (metres) I wasn’t sure it had been the right idea to hand up as he was in traffic but I was able to get clear and he sprinted strongly.”
Hryhorec said he was likely to run Lord Zarias in the Gawler Cup but was wary about it being a handicap.
“They don’t miss him in handicap races but I guess we will go around.
“The Kapunda Cup on March 31 is a mobile which suits him better.”
Consistent squaregaiter My Used To Be went one better in the 2025 Aldebaran Park Victor Harbor Trotters Cup (2160m).
With the late scratching of his 2024 conqueror Regal Attire, My Used To Be ($3.10) sat parked during the feature and outstayed his rivals to score by 1-1/2 metres from Tweedledee ($3.30) with All The Trix ($11) finishing strongly late, three metres away third.
Trained by Jill Neilson and Katie Wilson, the seven-year-old has proved himself one of the state’s best trotters.
During last year’s Country Cup series, he won the Gawler Hambletonian, ran third in the Fred Jones, second in the Ladbrokes Trotters Cup, second in the Victor Harbor Trotters Cup and second in the Port Pirie Cup.
This year he already has had seconds in the Fred Jones and the Kadina Trotters Cup, the latter behind Regal Attire which had beaten him at Victor Harbor.
This year, reinsman Wayne Hill decided to bring My Used To Be forward early and sit outside the early leader My Bad Habits and control the tempo.
When Gaita Pullicino made her run on Tweedledee with 600 metres to travel, Hill sent his drive to the front and challenged the former to run him down, and it couldn’t.
“I think it was his turn,” said trainer Jill Neilson.
“He is as consistent as the day is long.
“From the time he was a yearling he has been a no-nonsense horse but when he steps out on the track he means business.
“Wayne (Hill said when he saw Tweedledee coming up to challenge, he dugs deep to hold it off.
“It was good that owner-breeder Geoff Easom was on course today to see the win. He was happy leaving with the trophy and the rug.”
The three placegetters are expected to clash again in the 2025 Hambletonian at the Gawler Cup meeting on Monday, March 24.
Regal Attire had a slight colic attack which forced his late scratching at Victor Harbor but trainer Reyan Hryhorec was confident he would be right for the Hambletonian.
Port Pirie harness racing owner Chris Harvey is having good success with John Vincent, a horse he purchased from Victoria.
At Globe Derby Park, John Vincent, trained and driven at Two Wells by Ryan Hryhorec, took out the Kevin & Kay Seymour Pace (Heat one) over 1800m.
An unbackable $1.20 favourite, the five-year-old led throughout to score a short half head win from stablemate Lochinvar Jewels ($16) with Cyclone Brenda ($5), 5-1/2 metres away third.
Harvey said he purchased the gelding for a “respectable” price with good friend Mick Athanasiou and that John Vincent had more than repaid his price.
“He’s now won four of his seven starts for us,” Harvey said.
“Tonight’s win was a heat of a $14,000 final so if he can win that we will have made good money.
“Credit to Ryan (Hryhorec) he has placed him perfectly.”
Hryhorec had to push through from gate one to hold the front but Wayne Hill on Cyclone Brenda coming from barrier three kept the pressure on to make sure John Vincent didn’t have an easy time.
But he answered that challenge, and it was left to his stablemate Lochinvar Jewels to charge late along the sprint lane to just fail.
Fellow Port Pirie trainers Ryan and Trent Hoare had success with the much-maligned Fumia Reactor finishing best to win the Paceway Restaurant Open For Bookings Pace (2230m).
The 10-year-old came into the Hoare stable at the end of January and hosts, one in particular, of the popular social media television show “Taking The Reins” questioned the sanity of the trainers in taking the challenge.
The brothers now have the last laugh with Fumia Reactor winning a metropolitan race at just his fourth start for them.
A $13 chance, Fumia Reactor charged along the sprint lane to grab a 1-1/2 metre win from Rebel With A Grin ($9) with Ideal Melody ($2.70), a half-metre away third.
Driver Corey Johnson showed his delight waving his whip as the veteran pacer scored.
It was a winning double for Johnson who scored in the opening event on the heavily backed Trigger which firmed from $16 into $5.
Trigger came wide late in the Ladbrokes Odds Surge Pace (1800m) to win running away by six metres from Letsgetrowdy ($7) with Come On Sloopy ($11), 5-1/2 metres back in third spot.
Virginia trainer Mark Russo said he purchased Trigger from his father Joe who had become disenchanted with the six-year-old.
“He can be obstinate to work, and also hard to load onto the float and Dad said he was going to advertise him for sale, in October last year,” Russo said.
“I said I would buy him, and he has now won two races and a few placings to repay his purchase price.
“Credit to Corey, he has helped me with gear changes and hopefully he can win again.”
Johnson said a good early tempo had suited Trigger allowing him to settle back in the field before coming with a strong run when the leaders got tired.
