“IT’S something you dream of.”
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That’s how Ararat harness identity, Terry Young, summed up Deltasun’s win in the $50,000 Vicbred Homegrown Classic at Tabcorp Park, Melton last Saturday night.
“It’s generally the big trainers that win the big races, not those who muck around like me,” Young said.
With Gavin Lang at the controls, two-year old Deltasun handled the final corner better than race favourite Illawong Byron and held on to score victory by a half neck.
A photo was needed to split the pair.
Young was fairly confident about Deltasun’s chances leading into Saturday night’s group one race.
“He (Deltasun) was up against an odds-on chance but he goes pretty good. We were hoping he could win, put it this way,” the trainer said.
This was Young’s first ever group one victory.
“I’ve only ever had one other starter in a group one race,” he said.
“I’m only a hobby trainer, I don’t train for a living. I’m retired now so it gets me out of bed everyday.”
Currently, Young has four horses in work although that will be reduced to three on Saturday with one going out for a spell.
This was only Deltasun’s fourth start for the Young stable. The gelding had been going well prior to Saturday’s triumph.
“He galloped first start, and then the second I drove him myself in Bendigo – that was my first time driving in about four years,” Young said.
“We came second there and then we won in Maryborough. He shows a lot of promise and was second favourite for Saturday night’s race.”
Gavin Lang has been behind the controls of Deltasun in both wins.
“He’s a big improvement on me,” Young said.
Deltasun is owned and bred by Young’s daughter-in-law, Alison, who is married to Peter.
“That’s why I keep training – it’s a hobby for them too,” the elder Young said.
“They couldn’t believe it (the win) like me. We tried Deltasun’s mother but she was hopeless; she didn’t even make the races.
“But she must have been alright at having a foal.”
Deltasun will now head back to Melton on Friday, June 3 to contest the group two Tatlow Stakes for two-year old trotters.
In other harness racing news, Great Western trainer-driver Kerryn Manning drove a winner for Trevor Petching at Maryborough on Wednesday.
It followed Manning’s win at Horsham on Monday, with Blue Sky Commander finishing ahead of Michelle Wight-trained Idle Suntime.