Mark Pitt’s memorable night at Melton with four winners

Top reinsman Mark Pitt has an enviable strike rate and last Saturday night he won four races in a competitive harness racing card including both $100,000 APG Finals for Colts and Geldings and Fillies.

Pitt drove Ideal Frankie in the APG Fillies Final for trainer Alan McDonough who works with Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin but is a capable trainer and driver in his own right.

Ideal Frankie had created an enormous impression winning the APG Prelude at Kilmore against similar company and she was a prohibitive hot favourite for the Final.

IDEAL FRANKIE 27 JUN REPLAY

As expected Pitt took Ideal Frankie to the lead and the margin between herself and her rivals got bigger as the race progressed. At the finish Ideal Frankie had just under 43 metres to spare over Sweetsuccess with Grandiosa coming from the rear of the field to finish a close third.

Ideal Frankie rated 1.55.9 for the 1720 metre trip. After the event McDonough commented

She’s definitely the best juvenile horse I have ever trained and just hope she can go on with it.

Nine months ago we got this horse and you plan for these races. She’s locked in for the Protostar.

The Group 1 $500,000 feature is scheduled to be run at Albion Park on 11 July.

McDonough is aware that Emma Stewart will have a number of runners engaged.

I hope it’s a good clean race and they all go good.

However the colts division was more dramatic.

Cardigan Sniper (Ultimate Sniper) was well away from the pole but was beaten early by the South Australian visitor Seabreeze Lad who almost crossed to the lead. However driven hard by Pitt Cardigan Sniper kicked up to just hold the front and from then was in charge. Clayton who had some support was third.

CARDIGAN SNIPER 27 JUN REPLAY

Cardigan Sniper was still clear on the final bend but it was obvious that he was not going to win decisively. Clayton issued a challenge but Cardigan Sniper found another gear and he held on to win by over five metres from Clayton with Buildthemanastatue coming in third.

Cardigan Sniper was faster than Ideal Frankie going 1.54.9 for the trip.

Pitt acknowledged that the race could have gone differently had he been crossed for the lead.

I got him off as good as he can and kept him striding through strong. It was lucky that I still had my legs there. So they couldn’t cross down. I had enough speed so I kept burrowing through. And I think it was a winning move. I thought that when something comes at him, he’ll get going. He’s a very lazy and green guy out in front on his own.  So I was waiting for something to come but nothing came. I had to wake him up a little bit. Near the line he could hear the second horse come close to him and you could feel him pick up again.

He is a weird guy but I think with a bit more race experience we’re going to see a better horse.

Clayton and Emma are the best juvenile trainers I’ve seen. When they turn them out they’re always on song and they always race so well. They’re always well educated and they look well. It’s a big credit to them.

Earlier in the night, Pitt was successful on promising trotter Ijustcalledtosay (Love Yo) who stormed down the outside to take out the Need For Speed Trot. Trained by Kylie Sugars Ijustcalledtosay has always shown ability and last night was his best performance to date.

Then Pitt combined with his wife Lisa with Hes From Heaven (Sweet Lou) who led all the way to take out the Nevele R Stud Free For All.

For complete race results, click here.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink