Sport
31 January, 2026
Heat hits harness fields
ut the pared-back program still produced competitive racing. Crime Writer claimed the Loddon Shire Wedderburn Pacing Cup, securing his third cup victory in the past 12 months.
FIELDS for Sunday’s Wedderburn Cup meeting were reduced under Harness Racing Victoria’s extreme-heat policy — allowing penalty-free scratchings when the forecast reaches 38 degrees.
But the pared-back program still produced competitive racing. Crime Writer claimed the Loddon Shire Wedderburn Pacing Cup, securing his third cup victory in the past 12 months.
The Kirk Memorial went to the un-hobbled five-year-old Into The Harkness trained by the McNaultys at Kooreh who lifted her career tally to seven wins.
Driven positively by James Herbertson, the mare speared to the lead from gate three and controlled the race throughout, defeating Lombok (Zac Steenhuis/Ryan Sanderson) by 13 metres.
Stablemate Impeached again endured little luck and looks ready to break through.
In the Wedderburn Hotel Trotters Cup, New Zealand-bred Johns Boy repeated his success from last year’s Central Victorian Trotters Championship, again partnered by Tristan Larsen, the talented 22-year-old reinsman from the South Island.
Three-year-old filly Brave Art continued her rise, converting a strong Charlton performance into a determined win in the Stephenson Memorial.
With a clever, patient steer from Ryan Sanderson, the Zac Steenhuis-trained filly — raced by respected breeder Helen Plumb — chalked up her third win since joining the stable.
There was a role reversal at last week’s Charlton meeting, with Sunraysia-trained pacers winning four of the seven races, turning the tables on the usual south-bound raiders.
Local trainer Mick Gadsden flew the Charlton flag thanks to Bizzness Class, who has now earned more than $90,000 in prize money, though the gelding is owned by Mildura duo Pudd MacDonald and Sue Button.
At the Elmore Cup meeting held at Bendigo on Wednesday night, John Tormey’s lightly raced mare Dona Amalia returned to winning form, outstaying Poppy Popstar (Berimal/James Herbertson) in the final event. The victor, trained and owned by Tormey and driven by daughter Ellen, started at $2.30, defeating the $1.75 favourite.
Maryborough races today while Mildura’s night meeting has been cancelled due to extreme heat — a predictable outcome for January, the column muses. Charlton hosts its next meeting on Monday.
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