Hancock takes to the 'Road' for Group One win

It wouldn’t be a Group One harness racing day at Tabcorp Park Menangle without the name Hancock figuring somewhere in the success.

And after watching names like Turnbull, McCarthy, Purdon and Rasmussen take all the spoils, Pheasants Nest horseman Darren Hancock grabbed the last Group One of the day with an exciting win aboard On Thunder Road.

Fresh from a recent suspension, Darren was back in the bike and back in the winners’ circle, seizing the initiative with On Thunder Road with a lap and half to travel when he captured the front-running with his six-year-old son of Bettor's Delight.

The 3009m journey usually sorts out the men from the boys and that was the case with On Thunder Road, who just ground his rivals into the Menangle dirt, putting up some quick sectionals to score a five and three-quarter metre win over Glenferrie Dreamer with early leader Paris Pepperell one and a quarter metres back in third place in a 2:02.2 mile rate.

It was an emotional win for the owners, the Fleming family, who lost one of the part-owners Joe last year.

“We sent Darren a pacer and we got a trotter, and Our Thunder Road’s win today is very special for all the family,” said Tony Fleming as he accepted the trophy for winning the $54,000 SEW Eurodrive Trotters Cup, the final Group One on a star-studded day’s racing at Tabcorp Park Menangle.

On Thunder Road has now won 19 races and run 11 placings from just 44 starts.

“They’re the best owners in the world, they never bother me – they just want to be here and see their horses races – and hopefully win,” grinned Hancock.

On Thunder Road