Sport
29 November, 2025
Torney’s Victory seeker
ST ARNAUD East trainer-driver Scott Torney headed to Maryborough last week confident both his trotters could play a major role — and he wasn’t disappointed.
ST ARNAUD East trainer-driver Scott Torney headed to Maryborough last week confident both his trotters could play a major role — and he wasn’t disappointed.
First to step out was the ever-consistent Tension Seeker, the 12-year-old mare carrying form of 3, 2, 2 into her assignment.
From barrier four Torney secured the perfect “one–one” trip, producing the veteran at the top of the long Maryborough straight.
In a three-way battle to the line she finished a game third, beaten only two metres.
The 2:00.4 mile rate was sharp for the grade and more than two seconds quicker than her best winning time of 2:03, underlining the merit of the performance.
Two races later it was stablemate Aldebaran Maverick who took centre stage.
Well backed from 8–1 into 5–1, he caused early nerves for punters when he became overkeen at the first attempt to start, galloping and triggering a false start.
At the re-start Torney was able to step cleanly from barrier two, though crossed early by Castles In The Sky and later Christmas Babe.
When the early leader erred, Torney found himself perfectly placed on the leader’s back. At the 400m he eased one off the pegs, and with the field tightly packed turning for home, horse and driver punched through a gap to sprint clear for an easy and impressive victory.
At Bendigo on Wednesday night the McNaulty stable struck early, winning the opening race with Pesci, who had been luckless when running a brave third in the St Arnaud Cup at his previous start.
The Sunshine Beach gelding, raced by the McNaulty Family Racing Group along with G. Donald, J. Cornwell, A. Sharp, G. Sharp, B. Webster, J. Leonard, H. Leonard and V. Rodger, has now notched ten career wins for Koreeh trainers S. and J. McNaulty.
Driven by James Herbertson, Pesci reeled off a blistering 55.38 last half to score in a 1:53.4 mile rate.
The performance of Zenario in the $100,000 3YO Vicbred Final at Melton was nothing short of spectacular. Ninth at the 400m and forced to come four and five wide, he stormed home to finish fourth, just 1.9 metres from the winner.
His final quarter of 27.52 seconds, making up 12.5 metres, highlighted a run that had to be seen to be believed.
Local hopes line up at Mildura today and Bendigo tonight, before attention turns to next Sunday’s Stawell Pacing Cup, one of the key meetings on the calendar.
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