You’ve got to celebrate accordingly!

WHEN you finally capture an elusive Group One after a lifetime in the sport, a celebration is only natural!

For popular horseman Michael Bellman, tonight will be all about ‘getting on the beers’!

Bellman’s festive mood stems from his Victoria Trotters’ Derby success with Mecarno in Maryborough this afternoon.

“I am rapt,” Bellman declared. “To say I am stoked is an understatement!

“It’s the sort of thing you dream of achieving and to do it as trainer and driver is like two in one…it adds to the satisfaction.

“Mecarno is a home grown horse, which has been there from the day he was broken-in, which adds another layer to the fun.

“As soon as I get him home and tucked away in his yard, I will pin the ears back tonight and have a crack…you’ve got to celebrate accordingly!”

Driven with confidence, Mecarno was caught wide from his second row draw before being sent forward to test the leader, Gatesys Gem, from the ‘death seat’.

“At the start when a few galloped in front of him I was worried about avoiding the traffic, but after that everything went smoothly,” Bellman said. “I was confident with the way he was travelling and he was happy to be there.

“We just had to back ourselves.”

Overpowering the front runner along the home straight, Mecarno completed a tough two-metre win from Gatesys Gem, with Vytis 15-and-a-half metres away third.

Rating 2:00.9 over 2690 metres, the son of Tactical Landing took his record to five wins and two placings from 11 starts for earnings of $59,990.

“I couldn’t be more proud of him..he did a great job today,” Bellman said. “He’ll have a few easy days now, then I’ll aim him at the Vicbred heats in a couple of weeks.”