The big harness racing day at Maryborough today with its sole focus on the straight out trotter is akin to the holy grail for followers of the squaregaiter.
The jewel in the crown today was the $75,000 Victoria Trotting Derby which drew together the best Australian three year old trotters with the undisputed New Zealand champion three year old Speeding Spur.
Speeding Spur's main problem was that he drew barrier 13 which was the outside of the second line in the ten horse field.
Due to scratchings there was only four runners on the front line and Josh Dickie, the driver of Speeding Spur took advantage of the small front line and sent the son of Pegasus Spur forward from the start and grabbed the lead within the first 200 metres.
Blue Sky Commander settled into the trail behind Speeding Spur with My Arya facing the breeze.
Second favourite Illawong Armstrong circled the field mid-race to sit outside Speeding Spur but he really latched on and as a result there was no let up in the hot speed as he pulled himself into the ground.
Turning for home Speeding Spur still held the front but was being attacked on all sides.
Blue Sky Commander and Kerryn Manning were issuing a challenge up the passing lane after their soft trip while Amarula and John Caldow were finishing on stoutly centre track.
However as he has done all season in New Zealand, Speeding Spur kicked bigtime when he was challenged and was drawing away again at the line with Josh Dickie giving a little victory salute as he hit the line.
Blue Sky Commander ran into second with Amarula battling the last bit to run third.
Amarula's run was full of merit as she did have a short gallop in the score up but was with the field at dispatch.
Speeding Spur trotted the 2690 metres in 3:21.8, a mile rate of 2:00.7 which was a new track record.
Trained by Josh and John Dickie at Clevedon in South Auckland, todays win by Speeding Spur was his 11th from 14th starts as a three year old and took his seasonal earnings over the $250,000 mark.
His win today from barrier 13 after being attacked savagely mid race in track record time is further proof if any was needed that he is a superstar in the making.
New Zealand breeders would have had a big smile on their faces post race as the first three home were all bred in New Zealand and that carried on the great record that New Zealand bred trotters have in Australian age group classics.
Harnesslink Media