Flashy trotter provides perfect tonic

FLASHY trotter Dont Care proved he has the ability to match his looks with an upset win in Maryborough yesterday.

Showing plenty of potential with a debut victory, the two-year-old proved wayward during his five subsequent starts with a combination of bad manners and luck.

Producing his best this time around, the handsome chestnut captured an Australasian Breeders’ Crown heat in what also doubled as a perfect tonic for trainer Kate Hargreaves.

Hargreaves has been housebound in recent days due to a bout of tonsillitis.

“I couldn’t be happier with his run,” Hargreaves said. “We have a high opinion of him as he’s got plenty of ability he just needs to put it all together.

“I wanted to scream for him all the way down the straight as I watched him on the TV, but couldn’t because of my throat.”

Driven by Alex Ashwood, Dont Care began well from the pole but was unable to hold out the favourite Have No Fear which led from barrier four.

Angled away from the pegs around the final bend, the son of Used To Me sprinted to a four-and-a-half metre win from Have No Fear.

Aldebaran Zeus was a head away third after gaining a three-wide trail along the back straight.

“We knew on his best behaviour he was capable of winning and thankfully that’s what he did,” Hargreaves said.

Rating 2:01.8 over 2190 metres, the gelding’s time was six-tenths of a second slower than Illawong Barmah in the opening heat.

Trained and driven by Jodi Quinlan, Illawong Barmah led throughout from gate four to account for Watts Up Majestic and Kyvalley Hotspur.

The talented son of Muscle Mass, which was bred and is owned by Kaye Hartnett, boasts an impressive record of three wins and four seconds from seven starts.