Earl Harbour sails to victory in the Bendigo Trot Cup

11 June 2013 - Eight-year-old gelding Earl Harbour produced a career best performance to win in Saturday night's $15,000 Bendigo Bank Bendigo Trotters Cup (2650m) at Lord's Raceway. The Peter Manning  trained squaregaiter had been beaten in easier races at recent assignments and Manning said the win was "a little bit of a surprise." Starting well in the market at $7.50, Earl Harbour, driven by Kerryn Manning registered its eighth win for 79 starts and finished strongly to narrowly down Backas Cobber  (Chris Alford) with Tsonga (Nathan Jack) in third place. The race favourite I See Icy Earl (Greg Sugars) galloped on the final bend when making its claim for the prize and failed to beat a runner home. Earl Harbour's winning mile rate was 2:03.7. Earl Harbour now joins an impressive list of Bendigo Trotters Cup winners which include the Peter Manning trained champion Knight Pistol (1994), True Roman (1980) Scotch Notch (1982/83), A Touch Of Flair (2007) and Aleppo Sunrise (2012). He is also the second son of Earl to win the race, following Ella Powell's success in 2009.  Three other feature races were raced at Bendigo. The Bendigo Bank 3yo Trotters Classic was won by the locally trained The Boss Man. Driven by trainer Scott Dyer, The Boss Man started the $3.00 race favourite and was far too good for Invasive (Lance Justice) and Bellmac Kody (Haydon Gray). The Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series races produced two outstanding young winners. Majorlook trained and driven by Ian Montgomery extended its unbeaten winning streak to six in the 3yo C&G heat and Youranut made it five from five for trainer Ross Sugars and driver Greg Sugars in the 4yo C&G heat. Bred and raced by Donna Montgomery Major Look is a son of Art Major and outstanding mare Classic Rain.  Youranut formerly raced in NSW and has now won six races in succession. The chestnut son of Blissfull Hall is unbeaten in Victoria.