Trainer Ryan Hryhorec’s domination of the trotting races in South Australia’s Country Cup series continued at Port Pirie on Saturday.
Rakero Blaze’s win in the Listed $20,000 Aldebaran Park Port Pirie Trotters Cup (2530m) gave Hryhorec an amazing six wins in the seven-race series.
South Australia’s 2024 Horse Of The Year Regal Attire took out the Kadina Cup and Gawler Hambletonian Cup, Tweedledee the Fred Jones Cup, Aldebaran Dexta won the Strathalbyn Cup while Rakero Blaze was successful in the Kapunda Cup before her win at Port Pirie.
But Rakero Blaze’s Port Pirie win was achieved in very unusual circumstances.
All The Trix ($14), trained at Wasleys by Claire Goble, and driven by David Smith, was first past the post, eight metres in front of Rakero Blaze ($5.50 eq fav) with Phoebe Onyx ($5.50 eq fav), also trained by Hryhorec, five metres away third.
Hryhorec, who drove Rakero Blaze, lodged a protest post-race, that All The Trix had gained an unfair advantage by going over a number of the pegs which are a guide prior to the track’s sprint lane.
After a long hearing, Harness Racing stewards agreed and altered the placings giving the win to Rakero Blaze with All The Trix relegated to second.
Phoebe Onyx, driven by Gaita Pullicino, led and ran along with some quick mid race quarters.
All The Trix, which began well off his 10-metre handicap, settled fourth on the inside before Smith opted to come off the fence with a lap and a half to go.
He was able to take the gelding into second spot trailing the leader down the back straight on the final lap, and at this point, Rakero Blaze which began off 20 metres, was back in eighth spot, about 40 metres off the leader.
Smith gave All The Trix a breather behind Phoebe Onyx before steering to the inside turning for home and contacting a number of pegs before using the sprint lane to sprint to past the post first.
Rakero Blaze had made a long, sustained run and had momentum out wide but All The Trix outsprinted the mare up the straight.
Trainer-driver Ryan Hryhorec said it had been a “sad situation” to win the Port Pirie Cup on protest.
“I feel for Claire (Goble) and David (Smith) but as I know, rules are rules, and unfortunately for them, All The Trix went over the pegs which is not allowed,” Hryhorec said.
“Mid-race, I gave myself no chance of victory.
“I was hard at work on Rakero Blaze, and she was going nowhere. Then, down the back on the last lap, she started to pick up and made up really good ground and ran well through the line.
“She came to me in September last year and has won nine races from 15 starts, picking up in excess of $45,000.
“But now, coming off 20 metres to win, means she is likely to be off 30 metres next time.
“It is very hard to win off handicaps in South Australia. Look at Regal Attire. He is going well but at Port Pirie, he came off 40 metres but on settling down was about 70 metres off the lead.
“He finished eighth, beaten 41 metres – his handicap.
“The reality is that I have a very good team of trotters but might have to cull them because they are going to be handicapped out of our racing.
“I am going to speak to the authorities about the possibility of having a mobile trot once a month.”
Hryhorec revealed another quality trotter Doff Your Cap has joined his team to further add to his strength.
Leading driver at the Port Pirie meeting was Roseworthy-based Lisa Ryan who had three winners, two of which were trained by her husband Toby.
The Ryans combined with Alora ($2.10 fav), winner of the Afford Engineering Pace (2050m) before Ryan drove the $101 chance Itz Blackjack to take out the Typhoon Project Services Pace (1609m).
Her treble came up on Two In The Bin ($3.10 fav), also trained by her husband, in the Neville Thomson Memorial (1609m).
Two In The Bin is named after former baseball umpire Frank Woods who loved to give a commentary during games and that was one of his sayings.
