Star trotter Regal Attire appreciated not having to give a big start to his rivals in taking out the Sky Valley @ Aldebaran Park Victor Harbor Trotters Cup (2160m) on Sunday.
A week earlier, Regal Attire came off a 40- metre handicap in the Gawler Hambletonian and found the task too tough eventually finishing seventh to My Used To Be.
At Victor Harbor, the Cup was a mobile start, and the Ryan Hryhorec-trained six-year-old was able to hold off his Gawler conqueror.
Punters, aware of the level marks behind the mobile, sent out Regal Attire the $1.60 favourite and he scored by 1-1/2 metres from My Used To Be ($2.40) with Uncle Louis ($126) an eye-catching third, four metres away.
Hryhorec, who drove gelding on Sunday, said he had been a little wary about running the horse at Victor Harbor.
“He was flat after Gawler and it took a few days to get him up and about,” Hryhorec said.
“The fact it was a mobile and he could start on even terms was the deciding factor.”
Coming from gate three on the second row, Hryhorec settled Regal Attire at the rear of the field but made a mid-race move to go around and sit parked outside the leader Skybreeze.
“We were able to get away with a very moderate 34.4 second quarter, and from there I was able to dictate the tempo.
“We ran a smart 28.7 second third quarter which made it hard for those back in the field to make ground.
“My Used To Be launched a challenge in the home straight but my horse has a real will to win and was never going to surrender.
“I can now freshen him for a couple of days before getting him ready for the grand finale at Port Pirie.”
The $20,000 Port Pirie Trotters Cup (2530m) on Saturday, April 13 will be the culmination of the very successful country cups series but is a standing start race and no doubt Regal Attire will be asked to give away a start to his rivals.
One of the other features was the 2024 Marion Bay Seaside Apartments Victor Harbor Pacing Cup (2160m) where the Hryhorec-trained Lord Zarias was ready to do battle again with the Paul Cavallaro-trained Artillery after the pair ran the quinella in the Gawler Cup a week earlier.
From his favourable gate two draw Lord Zarias was sent out a red hot $1.60 favourite and expected to turn the tables on Artillery ($4.80) which had gate three on the second row.
But the race proved something of an anti-climax with Artillery adding to his Cups haul sweeping around the field to win by two metres from Sir Lucas ($13) with Hanging Fire ($7), five metres away third.
Lord Zarias, which settled second behind the bold front runner Hanging Fire, was eased out of the race in the home straight finishing last, beaten 43 metres.
“I knew something wasn’t right 100 metres after the start,” Hryhorec said.
“He just didn’t feel right and there was no point punishing him.
“He pulled up a little distressed and had mucous in his airways. I will have to treat him and try to have him right for Port Pirie.”
The $25,000 Port Pirie Pacing Cup (2530m) will also be run on April 13.
Trainer-driver Paul Cavallaro said the win was more a tick for the ability of Artillery, rather than his drive.
“It was not my best drive, but he was still good enough to win,” Cavallaro said.
“I should have settled a bit closer earlier, then when I came around the field I probably got left in front a bit too soon.
“It is a long way up that Victor Harbor straight, but I always felt confident he would win.
“He really is a very nice horse.
“It was great at Victor that a number of the owners and their children, plus my own family, were on course and able to enjoy the win.
“I will now try and have him right for Port Pirie.”
Cavallaro said he was also quite pleased with the run of stablemate Culture King ($21) which ran fifth, driven by Ken Rogers.
“He went around and sat parked and battled on well.
“He is going well and just need a bit of luck with the barrier draw and I’m sure he be competitive at Port Pirie.”
Wasleys trainer Claire Goble enjoyed her day trip to Victor Harbor coming away with a double courtesy of All The Trix and Clarenden Express, both driven by Ken Rogers.
All The Trix was the most breath-taking win of the day in the FPAG Services Trotters Mobile (2160m).
Settling last in the field of seven, All The Trix ($1.75 fav) was pulled out wide going into the back straight, quickly gathered in the leaders and raced away to score by 32-1/2 metres.
Goble is taking him through his classes, but All The Trix certainly looks capable of taking out some feature races.
Clarenden Express also came from second last in the Stacked Signs Goolwa Pace (2160m) to win.
Moops ($1.80 fav) set a very slow tempo and was expected to be too quick for his rivals but Clarenden Express sprinted strongly to wind up a two-metre winner from Moops with Weona Miss Fortune ($3.90), three metres away third.
