Kerryn Manning doubles again in International All Star Series
March 11, 2016,from Harness Racing Victoria
Flemington, Victoria, Australia — A second successive winning double has Kerryn Manning perched atop the International All Star Series leaderboard, with only Dexter Dunn and Brett Miller having a mathematical chance to unseat her.
Manning has amassed 161.5 points to lead Dunn by 10.5, with Miller third at 150.5. To claim the crown Dunn or Miller would have to win, claiming the 14 points, and have Manning finish ninth (two points) or 10th (one).
Manning has been drawn to drive Majestic Grace from barrier three in Saturday’s 22nd and final race of the series, which will take place at Tabcorp Park Melton. Miller will start outside Manning in barrier four with Rostevarren and Dunn has Matt Craven’s Star Gun from barrier seven.
Good Form analyst Jason Bonnington said it was a “difficult race with several winning hopes,” but he placed Cyclone Lucky Seven (Greg Sugars) on top from Uncas (Chris Alford), Heza Boy Star (Gavin Lang) and Manning’s Majestic Grace.
Manning led Dunn by a point going into Friday and her stranglehold on the competition was born from winning the 19th race with Animated and the 21st race with Peking Duck.
“It’s been a good night tonight again,” she said. “I had a great night last night at Ballarat. I wasn’t sure how tonight would fare, but the horses have done really well and I’ve been able to drive some nice ones.
“It’s just fun to be involved, it’s an honor to be chosen and it’s great to be in front.”
Animated was a $1.90 favorite and the Ross Graham-trained 4-year-old was driven accordingly by Manning, who took the gelding to the front and then held her ground on the straight to win by 3.9m from Keayang Ebonyrose (Brett Miller) and Sluggem (Greg Sugars).
“I needed the win to get back on the table and drew a very good horse,” Manning said.
Race 21 was even more conclusive for Manning and Peking Duck, who shot to the front from barrier one and raced keenly throughout, drawing clear down the straight to salute by almost 12m. Birthyday boy Anthony Butt finished second with Arrokeefe and Gavin Lang was third with Mister Hairy Maclary.
Earlier, in race 17, Brett Miller began day five of the series in the same fashion as he’d finished day four, with a win, this time with My Sophisticated Lady. Trainer Jarrod Pace’s 3-year-old filly broke its maiden status in Miller’s hands, with the $3.50 favorite saluting from Rockabella Starz (Dexter Dunn) and Albietta (Yannick Gingras).
The race was a dominant result for the World team, which filled the top five placings to leave the Vics languishing and surrendering their series lead.
“Not knowing the horses makes it very tough, so I have to rely on the trainers, and the trainer of the horse I just drove was very confident in his horse,” Miller said. “When I have a trainer who is very confident it makes me confident.”
But that domination by the world was fleeting, with Victorian drivers winning all other races.
Race 18 was claimed by Terang’s Jason Lee, who was three back on the pegs but when Chris Alford drew Boundary Row out to challenge leader and favorite Yannick Gingras on Endsino the sprint lane opened for Lee and he shot Uwouldntbelieveit into contention. Michelle Wight’s 4-year-old gelding pinched it on the line when it had appeared in Endsino’s keeping, with Rumbaron finishing strongly for Corey Callahan to take third ahead of Alford.
“I was pretty confident down the back if we got out we’d be on the winner, as classy as the leader was we were just cruising,” Lee said.
Like Lee, Greg Sugars hadn’t tasted success since night one despite consistently being around the mark and, like Lee, that all changed Friday night.
Sugars drove with aggression and confidence on Repeat After Me, going three wide early down the backstretch to circle those in front and then gradually drew away from leader, Jason Lee with Machli, to win by 5.3m.
“I’ve had a pretty good night. The last two have given me a good boost,” Sugars said. “It’s good to be out and mixing with these guys. They are really competitive races and we are certainly all out here and doing our best to win.”
The next and final stop is Tabcorp Park Melton on Saturday.
International All Star Series day six leaderboard: Kerryn Manning (161.5), Dexter Dunn (151), Brett Miller (150.5), Chris Alford (140.5), Yannick Gingras (138), Greg Sugars (136), Jason Lee (131.5), Corey Callahan (121.5), Anthony Butt (119.5), Gavin Lang (114.5).
Overall leaderboard: Victoria (684), The World (680.5).
- Yannick Gingras drives the World to the lead in International All Star Series (Monday, March 07, 2016)
Yannick Gingras has shot to the top of the leaderboard after a thrilling first day of the International All Star Series in Australia.
- It’s Miller time on day two of the International All Star Series (Tuesday, March 08, 2016)
United States superstar Brett Miller won for the first time on Australian soil and then made it two straight for good measure. Miller was the toast of the town when the International All Star Series rolled into Echuca for night two, smashing a track record while claiming victory in the final two races of the night to catapult from equal second-last on the series leaderboard to third.
- Dexter Dunn has the competition on the run after All Stars day three (Wednesday, March 09, 2016)
Dexter Dunn of New Zealand has taken a stranglehold on the International All Star Series with a magnificent Wednesday (March 9) at Maryborough. Victories in the day’s opening two series races and a third in the last propelled the Kiwi 9.5 points clear of the competition on the leaderboard and helped wrestle the series back into the World’s favor.
- Vics resurgence in International All Star Series (Thursday, March 10, 2016)
Kerryn Manning and Chris Alford led a Victorian surge on day four of the International All Star Series at Ballarat, overturning The World’s advantage. Manning drove a treble, including two series victories, and Alford was at his consistent best, producing a win, two thirds and a fourth to position himself as the night’s leading point scorer. The World weren’t without their shining moments. United States contestant Corey Callahan had his best day yet, amassing 32 points that included two placings, and his compatriot Brett Miller produced another longshot winner for an overjoyed group of owners.
- International All Star Series crowns its first champion (Saturday, March 12, 2016)
“It has been a pleasure to be involved, an honor to be invited and amazing to be able to win,” and with that Kerryn Manning accepted the first International All Star Series title. The Victorian champion sealed the series with a seventh placing at Tabcorp Park Melton on Saturday (March 12), when the 22nd and final race was held among Pryde’s EasiFeed Great Southern Star night.