Hard Done By to contest Vicbred Series

Improving three-year-old harness racing trotting filly Hard Done By earned a trip to Victoria with her all the way win in the Trotsguide.com.au Trotters Classic (2230m) at Globe Derby Park.

Trainer Barry Preston said Hard Done By would now contest a Vicbred Super Series heat at Maryborough on Thursday, June 18 and hopefully qualify for the final at Melton on Friday, July 3.

Driven by Ryan Hryhorec, the Armbro Variable filly, the $2.90 favourite, trotted to the front from the start and led throughout to win by seven metres from Joekenn ($5.10) with Baking Hot ($4) five and a half metres away third.

Preston, Brian Coles, from the Roseworthy Roadhouse, and John Cotter were able to purchase the filly during the year and she has been a steady improver since coming to South Australia.

Cotter said he had a long involvement with the Preston family.

“The Prestons are a legendary name in harness racing, especially with the trotters, and Barry’s father Keith was a genius and passed on his knowledge to Barry who is now creating his own history,” Cotter said.

“She has always been talented,” Preston said. “As a two-year-old she was among the best in Victoria and we were lucky to be able to pick her up.

“When she got here I had to learn about her habits but now I think we have her right and she is worth a trip back to Victoria to tackle the best of her age.”

Hryhorec said he had always been in control when able to lead and not seriously challenged.

The master reinsman got away with 33.2 and 32.8 first quarters which meant the filly was always going to be hard to run down and she peeled off 30.4 and 29.7 final quarters to win easily.

Hard Done By’s task was made easier when Swishbye, expected to be her main danger, was in a bad mood, even when scoring up and eventually galloped his way out of contention and was pulled up.

by Graham Fischer