John Dunne
Chris Svanosio is hoping to launch a two pronged assault on the upcoming feature races after the lightly raced former New Zealander Lovemeto outclassed his rivals in the Nevele R Stud Trotters Free For All at Melton.
Svanosio pressed for the lead with a lap to travel on the favourite and the son of What The Hill put a gap on the opposition in the home straight scoring by 12 metres from Shes Ruby Roo in a mile rate of 1:54.5.
Lovemeto reeled off his last 800 metres in a 56.8 over the 1720 metre sprint trip.
The win completed back to back wins at Melton for the Group 1 winning Great Northern Trotting Derby winner since arriving at Svanosio’s stable earlier this year.
“His racing as a three-year-old showed that he is up to the very best ones so it’s a matter of keeping him sound and letting him build- there is no substitute for racing the better horses and he should just keep getting better and tonight was a good stepping stone for him,” Svanosio said.
“He hadn’t raced for so long prior to his first up win here so we wanted to give him a bit of an easy time and get him in the pool.
We’ve kept him just ticking along at home doing a lot of his work swimming without being too hard on him and we’re hoping the racing will really bring him along,” he said.
The winner is raced by prominent owners Merv and Meg Butterworth along with New Zealand racing identity Graeme Rogerson and Svanosio has his sights on larger spoils.
“I’ll make sure he gets home and pulls up well and I’ll talk to Merv and Graeme Rogerson and they’ve had good horses before, so they know what it’s about,” he said.
“So I’ll work out a bit of a plan with them and hopefully he does measure up to those really good races
He is a good horse to work with Arcee Phoenix and get a good guide on him and we’re hoping that they’re both racing in the good races at some stage.”
Talented juvenile Hesitate will be aimed at the NSW Pacers Derby following his win in the Benstud Standardbred Youthful Stakes (2YO Colts & Geldings).
The Damien Burns trained and driven colt enjoyed the run of the race behind the $1.65 favorite Fairplay whose driver Mark Pitt dictated the race to suit himself.
Once in the sprint lane, Hesitate showed brilliant acceleration to pounce on the lead and score running away by two metres with a slick 26.4 last 400 metres.
Burns was thankful Hesitate was able to atone for his previous run when he broke twice in running during the Breeders Crown Final in which he started a $2.70 favourite.
“I thought I had to get around first and the result was second,” Burns said.
“He’s just got push button speed when he puts his head down and goes he can accelerate, I know how good this horse is and when he wins a race it’s just relief. He’s won all the minor classics but unfortunately he didn’t win a big one,” he said.
Burns said he had a change of plans in recent weeks.
“I was going to spell him after the Crown but after four days in the paddock and then he started tearing around and thought that we’ll keep him ticking along,” he said.
“We’re hopeful to look at the NSW Derby and target these races- he’s good enough to win a big one.”
