Ijustcantseeit in boilover wins Trotters Oaks

Outsider Ijustcantseeit (Wishing Stone) caused a boilover when she snatched harness racing victory in the last stride in the Group 1 $75,000 Mimosa Homes Victoria Trotters Oaks at Melton on Saturday evening.

In what was not an overly strong Trotters Oaks field, Hallebesofine who had performed admirably in her previous starts in reasonably strong company bounded out to the lead early with Jilliby Radiance taking the trail and Harperseven with the one out and two back trail. Favourite Hallebesofine looked to be holding off her rivals as they negotiated around the final bend after Jilliby Radiance galloped.

Harperseven was steadily making up ground but the race suddenly changed complexion when Ijustcantseeit was out very wide storming home and with Daryl Douglas urging her on she edged out the luckless Hallebesofine with Harperseven a close third.

IJUSTCANTSEEIT 17 OCT REPLAY

Ijustcalledtosay gave Daryl Douglas his first Group 1 success since his win on Revelstoke in a breeders challenge final at Melton on 31 December 2022.

It was also a very special evening for hobby trainer Rebecca Morrissey

Trainer Rebecca Morrissey was full of emotion following the event.

Oh, she just hasn’t come back as a three-year-old, and she had a bit of a rough start early on, and I just couldn’t get her right, and she was making mistakes and I just spoke to Daryl before, and he said, You know, she’s not out of this if we get the right run. And he was held up, and I could see that, but I couldn’t believe it when she got home as well as she did.

No, I didn’t think she’d win because I said to my sister, I can’t even see where she is, so but I could see her coming down the outside, and I just hoped she could just sprint home enough to grab it.

Oh, it feels awesome. I’ve only got a really small team at home, and I work. I’m only a little hobby trainer, so to win this, it’s just brilliant and there’s so many people. Mick Belmont’s driven her a lot, and he had his own in tonight, and he shoes her and done so much prep work with her as a young horse. And Daryl’s been great enough to jump on and and stick with her, and he’s a great driver, and there’s just so many people to thank. I’m just overwhelmed.

I actually have no idea what’s next. I haven’t looked beyond tonight, but she is paid up for the Breeders’ Crown, so we’ll see what happens later in the year.

It was yet another heartbreak for Hallebesofine as she is yet to win a major classic.

 

For complete race results, click here.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink