A largely stress-free victory on Saturday night has set Brent Lilley’s latest purchase on a smooth path towards Sunday’s Seelite Windows and Doors Victoria Trotters Derby.
Stress Factor found the front in Saturday night’s SBG Accountants 3YO Trot for reinsman Chris Alford and held off fast-finishing Majestic Player to salute ahead of a number of likely Derby opponents, including third-placed Anywhere Hugo and fourth-placed Kyvalley Finn.
“He was really good,” Alford told Trots Vision post-race. “He raced in all the good races in New Zealand and then has been purchased by Brent and his clients. He’s done a good job and was really strong tonight.”
The hit-out at Tabcorp Park was Stress Factor’s Australian debut, having previously raced in New Zealand for co-trainers Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett, for whom he produced three wins in eight starts and ran fourth in the 3YO Ruby on Harness Jewels day, finishing 1.4m behind Alford’s third-placed Wobelee.
“He seemed to wait for them a little bit, I’m pretty sure that’s just because he hasn’t had a run for a little bit,” Alford said. “Brent said his work at home, he feels like a nice horse. He’s got the Derby next weekend and then hopefully on to the Breeders Crown, he should just keep getting better.”
Michael Howard