SA pride to honour former 'Croweater' great
HE’S the champion almost no one knows about, but in Melton on Saturday night Inter Dominion winner Young Pedro will be honoured.
Without doubt one of the lesser-known winners of the time-honoured series, Young Pedro captured the feature at the Ascot Vale Showgrounds in 1959 in what was the 18th running of the Trans-Tasman event.
Owned, trained and driven by South Australian Leo Hunt, Young Pedro became just the second four-year-old to secure the Championship, following Springfield Globe’s triumph in Launceston 20 years earlier.
Foaled in 1954, the chestnut colt is by Van Derby from Pedro’s Salute by Pedro Pronto from Royal Salute by Royal Lulu.
Fifth in his opening heat won by Dusty Miller, Young Pedro was then successful on the second night before running third behind Caduceus in his third qualifier.
Caduceus and Dusty Miller were the only unbeaten performers during the heats.
The rank outsider at 33/1 in the 12,000 pound Final over 14 furlongs (2800 metres), Young Pedro began well from the front line to settle in the coveted one-one as Dusty Miller led.
Angled into the clear around the last bend, Young Pedro dashed past the pacemaker at the top of the straight before scoring by three yards from Dusty Miller, which was second favourite at 9/2.
Billabong Scott, which also won a second round heat, was two yards away third at 25/1.
Caduceus, a 6/4 favourite despite his 36-yard handicap, could only manage fifth.
Young Pedro rated 2:11.8 in front of a crowd of 30,153 – an attendance which was considered disappointing due to “bad weather conditions”.
Overall, the four-night series attracted 92,042 patrons!
Young Pedro’s triumph rounded out a hat-trick for South Australia, with Radiant Venture winning in Perth in 1957 and Free Hall in Adelaide in 1958.
A crowd favourite closer to home, Young Pedro was also victorious in the 1959 and ‘61 South Australia Cups with Hunt in the sulky.
The latter success came in one of two divisions of the Cup, with Billabong Scott winning the other.
As for this weekend’s race in Young Pedro’s honour, a handy field of open class performers will battle over 1720 metres.
Fittingly several former 'Croweaters' are among the leading chances despite a mixture of fortunes in the draw.
Star reinswoman Kate Gath has fared best with Tango Tara expected to settle forward from barrier two.
Trained by Gath's Vicbred husband, Andy, Tango Tara is on the second line of TAB Fixed Odds betting at $4.60, with Triple Eight the $2.90 favourite despite his back row draw.
Triple Eight has won two of his last five starts, including the Captain Sandy Free-For-All named after the dual Inter Dominion winner, which was triumphant during the 1953 Perth series under the care of Adelaide horseman, Dinny Nolan.
An SA-orientated driver like Gath, Greg Sugars will partner Triple Eight.
Watching from the grandstand will be South Australian-born trainer, Dianne Giles, who will be represented by Sew What.
Midrange in betting at $21, Sew What has drawn awkwardly in barrier six.
