Watts Up Partytime smashes track record in Trotters Mile
Watts Up Partytime on his best behaviour
The brilliant but unreliable Watts Up Partytime (Majestic Sun) was on his best behaviour when he took out the Skyfall Standardbreds Trotters Mile at Newcastle on Friday evening.
The race saw a return to trotters races for Newcastle and they attracted a small but quality field. All eyes were on the French import Krystal Josselyn who had won his last three trials at Menangle. Trained by Anton Golino who has a superb record with trotters Krystal Josselyn was driven by Luke McCarthy.
The other interesting runner was the highly promising Sunset Hill who ran Keayang Zahara to two metres in last year’s The Great Square at Albion Park.
A clean dispatch saw Krystal Josselyn take a clear lead with Sunset Hill taking a trail behind the leader. Watts Up Partytime commenced safely and driver Ashleigh Delosa allowed him to race outside the leader.
WATTS UP PARTYTIME 27 FEB REPLAY
The race changed complexion in the back straight when Krystal Josselyn suddenly broke up leaving Watts Up Partytime a clear leader. Kystal Josselyn didn’t lose too much ground but then he broke up again and this time was relegated to the rear of the field.
Sunset Hill set out after Watts Up Partytime but the latter had too much of a break and he cleared away to keep going for an impressive 17 metre win over Sunset Hill who finished just in front of Speedy Lover. The winner ran 1.53.7 for the mile smashing Knight Pistol’s previous 18 year old track record of 1.59.4.
Trainer Rickie Alchin has always had a big opinion of Watts Up Partytime and last year he showed his class when he won the Great Southern Star at Melton.
Through virtue of his win, Watts Up Partytime has won a place in the Group1 $100,000 Hammerhead Mile at Menangle on 14 March.
There’s no doubt that Watts Up Partytime is a class trotter on his night and if he trots he’ll be hard to beat in the Hammerhead Mile given that Keayang Zahara is not likely to take on the event. However star Queensland trotter Gus may make the trip for the coveted Trotters sprint.
Trainer Anton Golino will no doubt have a challenge in getting Krystal Josselyn trotting soundly again but he’ll need to trot cleanly to have any chance of winning any of the big forthcoming races. He’ll now have to compete satisfactorily in a trial before coming back to the race track.
For complete race results, click here.
by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink
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