Verbici and Arete Virtue take the Yabby Dam Farm Trotters Classics

Just how good is two year old trotter Verbici (Orlando Vici)? The flashy brown gelding won his eighth race on end to maintain his unbeaten record in the Yabby Dam Farms Trotters Final at Menangle on Saturday evening.

Driver Chris Lang who also trains Verbici decided to take a trail early as Chief Kenny showed plenty of speed to take up the running. Another Victorian Keayang Marcus was also well away but he broke up early to put himself out of the race.

From then on it was a case of Verbici stalking Chief Kenny who plenty of toe in the lead. First starter Luxalicious was third and the remainder of the field was well back. Driver Joshua Gallagher on Chief Kenny got away with a very slow 32.5 seconds for the second quarter as attempted to gain a break over Verbici.

However Verbici started to get wound up as they straightened and in a flash he raced past Chief Kenny who refused to give in as they were well clear of Luxalicious in third place.

At this stage Verbici will be a warm favourite for the Group 1 Redwood Classic at Maryborough on 1 November and on his current form he looks the testing material.

VERBICI 10 OCT REPLAY

Chief Kenny must surely be one of the most unlucky youngsters going around. He’s now had eight starts for seven seconds. He was runner up to Verbici in the Nutrien Equine two year old final in July and he surely to greet the winners circle very soon.

The Yabby Dam Farms fillies division produced a boilover when Arete Virtue (On A  Streak) friendless in the betting stormed down the outside to defeat the leader Connect The Dots and Keayang Zabrina in a stirring finish.

First starter Jilliby Connection looked to be coasting in the back straight behind the leader but unexpectedly she broke up and interfered with a few behind her.

Connect The Dots make a valiant effort to lead all the way with driver Chris Lang looking to take the coveted trotters double. But Arete Virtue who was well back was urged on by driver Chris Geary and she finished too well. Connect The Dots looked to have the race in her keeping but she could not hold off Arete Virtue.

ARETE VIRTUE 10 OCT REPLAY

Arete Virtue hadn’t done much in her previous six starts where she had been unplaced. She’s owned and trained by her breeder Grant Forrest who has been solid supporter of trotters in New South Wales over the years so his success was well deserved.

If there was a hard luck story it would have been Keayang Zabrina who was travelling well before being inconvenienced at the crucial stage and she was close up in third.

The series was made available through the generous sponsorship of Yabby Dam Farms that have supported young trotters races especially giving crucial support in New South Wales to provide a basis for the squaregaiters to flourish in that state.

 

For complete race results, click here.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink