A quick look at the Reg Withers Classic honour roll reveals truth in the adage “it is a good horse’s race”.
From Henschke’s pioneering win in 2002 in the inaugural classic at Kilmore right through to Follow The Stars’ triumph on Saturday night, the honour roll is adorned with top-line talents.
Henschke won 34 of 157 races and pocketed connections over $400,000, with the two-year-old Breeders’ Crown Final at Bendigo his crowning moment.
The 2003 Reg Withers Classic winner Maggies Son won 42 races from 168 starts for $368,719. Maggies Son’s biggest victory came in the Vicbred Super Series final at four.
In 2005 the Classic again produced a genuine free-for-aller with Tactical Dreamer taking it out before going on to win a Melton Plate and the Preux Chevalier Free-For-All to finish with 21 wins from 100 starts for almost $200,000 in stakes.
Garnet River won the Reg Withers Classic in 2009 after winning APG heats and the Youthful Stakes at two and finishing runner-up in the Breeders’ Crown Final.
In 2011 Caribbean Blaster was Reg Withers Classic champion, with the Andy Gath-trained son of Bettors Delight etching a name for himself with wins in the Chariots Of Fire, Breeders’ Crown Final, Victoria Cup and the 2014 SA Cup.
Caribbean Blaster had 79 starts for 24 wins for over $1.1 million in stakes.
In 2012 it was Philadelphia Man who delighted Kilmore fans in the Reg Withers Classic. He went on to win the Vicbred Super Series Final at three.
Flaming Flutter won the 2013 Reg Withers and has gone on to run second in this year’s Inter Dominion, while Smokey Quartz took out the Kilmore feature last year and has just recently resumed from a spell.
Back to Saturday night’s winner, Follow The Stars. He’s already considered a top-liner with 16 wins from 22 starts…so watch this space.
Trained by Belinda McCarthy, Follow The Stars defeated Burnaholeinmypocket in 1:57 over the 2180-metre trip.
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HRV Media