Lovemeto’s grinding win in Dullard Cup

Top trotter Lovemeto (What The Hill) showed that he’ll be a force to be reckoned with in the big trotters features when he showed outstanding staying prowess to take out this year’s Group 3 Woodlands Stud VL Dullard Trotters Cup at Melton on Saturday night.

The former New Zealander who won a Heat of the Inter Dominion Trotters Championship at Albion Park in July was having his second harness racing start from a spell and obviously was a lot sharper.

LOVEMETO 10 OCT REPLAY

Star four year old mare Gatesys Gem who’s had a marvellous juvenile career was able to cross over and take up the running from early leader Jilliby Dreamlover.

This left Lovemeto caught outside the leader. However driver Chris Svanosio wasn’t ruffled and was content to just sit facing the facing the breeze. Lovemeto put the pressure on Gatesys Gem in the back straight and he forged to the lead. It was left to the much improved Hoppy to issue a challenge out wide in the home straight and he finished a credible second ahead of Jilliby Dreamlover.

Trainer Chris Svanosio was well pleased after the event.

He was terrific. He was wide around the first bend. Second up from a spell, so it’s not easy, but he trotted pretty good for him. He won an inter heat up there in Queensland, but he was never trotting quite as comfortable up in Albion Park. But he felt pretty good tonight.

Obviously he was a great horse before I got him. He was a New Zealand three-year-old Trotter of the Year and a Derby winner in New Zealand for Dylan Ferguson and Graeme Rogerson, but he just had his little niggles along the way. So Graeme and Merv sent him over here, so it’s just been sort of a matter of managing him. If we know how good he is. But I’m very proud to have him back in the winners list tonight.

I’d be happy if Kerryn Manning was driving him. I was just as wrapped when she was winning on him and she drove him so great all the time. But she’ll get back on him. Hopefully she’s back driving sooner rather than later.

As long as he pulls up good, we’ll aim to have him here next week (for the Bill Collins Mile). It’s a bit trickier over the mile. You need things to go right. The long distance probably suited him tonight, but he should be feeling pretty good and hopefully can run a great race.

 

For complete race results, click here.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink