Mecarno’s return builds Bellman's Queensland dream

Popular Ararat harness racing horseman Michael Bellman is trying not to get too far ahead of himself.

But as exciting trotter Mecarno (Tactical Landing) prepares to return to racing at Melton this Saturday night (June 6), Bellman admits it is becoming increasingly difficult not to dream about a shot at some of the country’s richest races next month.

Mecarno was a revelation last season winning nine of his 13 starts and emerging as one of Victoria’s brightest young square-gaiters.

“He was sent to the paddock for a well-earned break in December and was out for two- and a-bit months. Then I just brought him up slowly with lots of jog work,” Bellman said.

The four-year-old is set to resume in the free-for-all on Saturday night, but Bellman already has a much bigger target in mind.

“Our focus is on The Great Square in Brisbane on July 4. He’s shown me he’s ready for another big campaign so we could be in Queensland for a couple of weeks or a month – depending on how the cards fall for us,” Bellman said.

Sponsored by Yabby Dam Farms, The Great Square carries Group One status and prizemoney of $150,000 – as well as a pathway to the big one, the $500,000 Ladbrokes Inter Dominion Final, on July 18.

The signs have certainly been encouraging.

Bellman trialled Mecarno at Maryborough on May 11, where he defeated a field of pacers with a sizzling final half of 56.7 seconds.

At his only other trial this preparation, Mecarno was narrowly beaten by Victorian trotting superstar Rockinwithattitude on a rain-affected Bendigo track last Monday night.

“David (Miles) led on his mare and we went along steady before he cranked it up over the last bit,” Bellman said.

“The mile rate was about 2.02, but the last half was 56.9 with a final quarter of 27.6. It was a solid trial and David beat us by a short half head.”

Mecarno was bred by Ararat couple Gary and Tracy Hull, who operate a plumbing business in the town.

“They’ve been with me for a fair while and just love the sport. They hardly miss a meeting despite being very busy,” he said.

Bellman trains a team of 11 horses while also carrying out horse-shoeing duties for a number of other stables, making Mecarno’s rise to the top all the more rewarding.

He has already proven to be a career-changing horse. One of Victoria’s hardest-working freelance drivers, Bellman can still laugh about having to wait 27 years for his first Group One success.

“Then along came Mecarno who gave me my first Group 1 last year at Maryborough (Nov 2) in the Trotters Derby Final. A few weeks later we won the VicBred 3YO Trotting Final and then the Breeders Crown at Melton, so now I’ve got three,” he said.

 

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink