Imperial Monarch outstays rivals in Trotters Championship

Tough trotter Imperial Monarch (Imperial Count) scored his most important win to date when he was driven a classic race by Jason Lee in the Group 3 Logical Staff Solutions Australasian Trotters Championship at Melton on Saturday night.

 

The time honoured event saw the presence of star trotter Lovemeto who was installed favourite ahead of the vastly improved Hoppy and Imperial Monarch.

Lovemeto flew the tapes early and bounded to a clear lead but driver Chris Svanosio surrendered the lead to Imperial Monarch while Hoppy settled three back on the rails.

IMPERIAL MONARCH 14 NOV REPLAY

However Jason Lee was able to dictate his own terms giving Imperial Monarch the easiest of runs while in front. Im Bobby who had moved up early to face the breeze and Crackajack having his first start since a spell had the one out and one back.

But it was only in the last quarter with a 27.1 seconds time that Imperial Monarch put on the pace and he had enough in reserve to hold off a determined Lovemeto while Hoppy held his ground to finish a credible third. Crackajack who finished fifth will be much improved by the run and is sure to be prominent when he starts next time.

Jason Lee explained after the event

Obviously Paddy (Lee) and Pete Lagan picked him out in New Zealand and he’s done a great job since we’ve had him. And he’s probably been at the crossroads a couple of times, but it’s pretty tough at this grade and you’ve only got to be 5% off or land here pretty quick and not even have luck or just be running a little below your best and it can be tough. But he’s right in the zone at the moment and there’s probably four or five of them here that are all  locking horns every week or every second week and whoever gets the best run or has the best day or night of getting the job done.

We’ve got great trainers here in Australia, but definitely in Victoria with trotters everywhere and it’s very competitive racing and it’s great to be able to work with these great animals every day and try to get the best out of them. And Marg and Paddy and the team at home have got a great bunch of square gaiters, but even the team, we’ve got some really nice pacers there and having a good run, so no it’s been great.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink