Yabby Dam Racing, led by Pat Driscoll, has been making significant advancements in Southern Hemisphere trotting after Driscoll’s love affair with the trotter began in Europe. Hondo Grattan Stakes winner Bay Of Biscay and Miki To Success have both qualified for the $250,000 Chariots of Fire at Menangle on March 1, with Bay Of Biscay setting a new lifetime mark of 1:49.8 in the Hondo Grattan.
At Menangle, four horses entered the 1:50 list, including Max Delight, Eye Keep Smiling, and The Janitor. Captain Hammerhead set a new track record at Albury, winning the Albury Murray Cup in 1:57.1. The Janitor, a Chariots of Fire prospect, has proven himself in top company and set a new lifetime record of 1:49.6.
Hampton Banner, a son of Bettor’s Delight, has been performing well at Gloucester Park, winning three out of four starts. Rocknroll Hammer, a three-quarter brother to King Of Swing, has also been successful in metropolitan company at Melton. Captain Ahab, represented by his first Australian winner Chef’s Kiss, shows promise as a sire with his oldest stock being two-year-olds in Australia.