Patient drive pays dividends in Kilmore Trotting Cup

The decision by Chris Lang to remain patient mid race paid dividends when Ollivici (Orlando Vici) outstayed his harness racing rivals in the Kilmore Trotters Cup. 

Deemed a match race between the 30 metre backmarkers, Ollivici ($2.50) settled at the rear of the field following the helmet of Greg Sugars on the $1.90 favorite One Over All while Bullion Harry worked to the lead inside the first 400 metres. 

Sugars made a bold mid race move to wrest the lead off Bullion Harry however One Over All broke stride when a half-length in front and ultimately landed in the one out one back trail on the back of Ollivici. 

Ollivici ranged up outside its stable mate half way down the straight before drawing clear in the concluding stages to score by two metres from Bullion Harry.  

Chris Lang and Sonia Mahar land a training quinella in the MC Labour Kilmore Trotters Cup as the supremely talented Ollivici overcomes a 30m handicap to beat Bullion Harry in the $25,000 feature. That's a second driving success in the race for Lang, who won it back in 1998! pic.twitter.com/MruiKmjSaU

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) September 29, 2023

Lang said it was satisfying to pull the right rein mid race and bide his time at the rear of the field. 

“It’s good to be right occasionally,” Lang said. 

Lang said the son of Orlando Vici had the ability to conserve energy and not over extend himself.  

“Hes getting better and better this preparation, he’s such a relaxed animal he just does what you ask him to do and no more,” he said.  

“The favorite was on my back and I had to be wary of that but in the end I don’t think it would have mattered what I did.” 

Through winning the race Ollivici received a ‘golden ticket’ into  this year’s Inter Dominion series in Brisbane

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink