Monarch reigns supreme
VETERAN trotter Tough Monarch will chase a hat-trick of Group One weekends when he returns to Tabcorp Park Melton in a fortnight.
Making another trip to Victoria last Saturday night, Tough Monarch registered a top shelf triumph in a Great Southern Star heat before having no luck in the Final a few hours later.
Fast forward to this evening’s program at the same venue and the nine-year-old has added to The Knight Pistol to his tally.
Set to remain south of the Murray River, Tough Monarch will be aimed at the Group One Australasian Grand Prix on February 27.
Should Tough Monarch return to Rickie Alchin’s New South Wales stable in favourable condition he will then tackle the Trotters’ Mile at Club Menangle on March 6.
Also carrying Group One status, the sprint is part of the phenomenal Miracle Mile program.
“He has done a tremendous job done there,” Alchin said. “I was down there with him last week, but returned home on Monday and left him with Chris (Svanosio).
“He’ll remain in Victoria with Chris for another fortnight to be ready for the Grand Prix.
“I will see how he is when he gets home before I make a decision on the mile at Menangle.”
With Svanosio in the cart, Tough Monarch began quickly to lead from barrier five as the favourite, Majestic Man, worked overtime in the ‘death seat’.
Fending off the initial challenge at the top of the home straight, the son of Monarchy was forced to dig deep to stave off a late charge from Sundons Courage along the sprint lane to score by a short half-head.
Majestuoso was a metre-and-a-half away third in 1:57.2 over 2240 metres.
“He loves to be out in front, that’s his racing pattern,” Alchin said. “But he rarely draws well in the big races to be out in the lead.
“I was hoping Chris kept them honest, which is what I told him to do, and he drove him a treat.
“I was concerned about Sundons Courage trailing him, but also knew the best way to beat the favourite was to run him along.
“He only got there by the barest of margins, but that’s all he needed to do.”