Australian record an ominous warning

AN OMINOUS warning was issued during yesterday’s Club Menangle program.

First-up from a 20-week break, Watts Up Majestic signalled his intentions ahead of a Victorian campaign with a stunning performance.

With trainer Ricki Alchin in the cart, the son of Majestic Son set an Australian record over 1609 metres.

Stopping the clock in 1:54.2, Watts Up Majestic sliced three-tenths of a second from On Advice’s national mark for three-year-old trotters.

“I knew we were moving along, but I didn’t realise we’d broken the Australian record,” Alchin said.

“He did well during his time off and I knew he was right to go…I just didn’t expect it to be that quick or him to do it that easily!

“He’s proven he is a nice trotter and up with the best of his age and hopefully that will continue during the next couple of months.”

Planning to give the squaregaiter “one more local start”, Alchin will then aim Watts Up Majestic at the Victoria Trotters’ Derby and his Australasian Breeders’ Crown defence.

Heats of the Blue Riband are scheduled to be held in Maryborough on October 24, with the Final at the same venue a week later.

Breeders’ Crown qualifiers will begin in November.

“He will have one more local start before we head to Victoria for the Derby and the Breeders’ Crown,” Alchin said.

“He’s got a big campaign coming up and started it in the perfect way.”