Feature win revives memory of all-time great

THE revered colors of the greatest trotter seen in this part of the world were carried to victory by Alrighty in the Homegrown Classic in Melton last night.

The Andy Gath-trained two-year-old was driven by his wife Kate who was sporting the green and gold stars carried by the mighty Maori's Idol which defeated the pacers at Grand Circuit level during the late 1970s.

Favorite backers had their hearts in their mouths when the $1.40 favourite galloped on the first turn, however, Gath was able to settle Alrighty down quickly before positioning him three-back along the pegs.

Finishing along the sprint lane, the son of Skyvalley powered home to score from Just As I Am in  1:58.1

“It was really satisfying because they did everything to beat us and he was still just too good,” Gath said. “I had to push him really hard but he got down quickly so full credit to him as he had nothing go his way.”

The stable completed a clean sweep of  Homegrown Trotting Finals when Iron Women also used the sprint lane on her way to victory in the fillies' division.

The $2.20 favourite Zipping Volstead  galloped at the start ruining its hopes and it was left to Iron Women to grab victory on the line by a half-neck from Myheartbeatstrue, with No Money No Honey a metre away third.

Gath said she adopted conservative tactics with the daughter of Quaker Jet.

“It was a different move but when Nathan (Jack) galloped I feel like she is a better horse either parked or behind,” Gath said. “They went really slow and it’s not her go to dash that quick but to her credit she got the job done.”

Emma Stewart-trained youngsters prevailed in the Pacing Finals.

Captain Perfect chalked up his first win by leading most of the way in the slick time of 1:52.2.

Driver Mark Pitt said he opted to ease out of the early battle for supremacy.

“It looked like it was getting a bit tight so I elected to ease out of it and once I got clear room I thought that I would drive him like the best horse,” Pitt said.

“Then I kept him rolling along strong so that it could take a bit of sting out of the speedy ones- I reckon he is one of those horses with a lot more stamina than speed at the moment,” he said.

Pitt believes the son of Captaintreacherous has a bright future.

“He can be a little bit of a handful at times but once he works it out and has a few more runs and a let up here and there I think he is going to be a pretty serous horse,” Pitt said.

Looks Perfect, an easy heat winner, proved too strong for her rivals after sitting parked in the Fillies' Final defeating stablemate Ill Be Gone in a mile rate of 1:55.3.

Pitt said he had to guide the daughter of Always B Miki around the home turn.

“She is still very green and I had to get her around the bend safe before I could really let her go, she was jogging at the time but I had to nurse her around but once I hit the straight I gave her full tilt and she went,” Pitt said.

“I really think that she is one of the fillies that we are looking out for in the future.”

• HRV Media