Sport
3 March, 2026
Trots winner decided by the stewards
CHARLTON once again delivered competitive racing last weekend two victories from the local training centre capped the day in style.
CHARLTON once again delivered competitive racing last weekend two victories from the local training centre capped the day in style.
The opening four races offered limited joy for home supporters, with only a handful of placings, before fortunes swung sharply in Race 5 — though the result was decided in the stewards’ room rather than on the track.
Past the post it was Dreams of Love (Ryan Sanderson) scoring by a short half-head over Rakero Warrior (J. Leedham), with Beautiful Sunrise (Ada Massa) a half-head away in third.
Massa lodged a protest alleging interference in the home straight, and stewards, after reviewing head-on footage, upheld the objection.
Dreams of Love was relegated to third place, elevating Rakero Warrior to the win — a pleasing outcome for favourite-backers who had taken the $1.45 about the Tori Hutchins-trained gelding.
The victory was his sixth from eleven starts for the stable.
Charlton’s second local triumph arrived immediately after when No Emotion, trained by Mick Gadsden and driven boldly early by Luke Dunne from a wide front-row draw, proved far too strong late.
The 10-year-old surged clear to win by 5.4 metres, clocking a 58-second last half and a lifetime best 1:55.5 at what was start number 123 — a testament to both the horse’s longevity and the quality of Monday’s track surface.
Attention now turns to a massive fortnight of country racing.
This Sunday is Boort Cup Day, supported by the two Central Victorian Championships and a Lady Driver’s event.
The following week brings the inaugural $125,000 Running of the Bulls at Birchip, with slot-holders set to announce their selected horses today.
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