14.12.09
Skyvalley Sublime
Super-star Aussie trotter Skyvalley lived up to all the hype surrounding him with a dazzling performance in the $50,000 Group 1 Aldebaran Park Stud Bill Collins Trotters Sprint (1,720m) at Tabcorp Park, Melton on December 11.
The 5yo Muscles Yankee entire put the result beyond doubt the second he found the lead off the gate, with the Chris Lang protégé running the field ragged through four consecutive sub 30 second quarters to cross the line with 5.5m to spare over his champion stable-mate Sundon’s Gift.
Skyvalley’s mile rate of 1:56.4 was just 0.2 seconds outside the Australian national record for trotters, set by Earl Of Mot in 2008 over the shorter trip of 1609m at Menangle.
The win was Skyvalley’s first Group 1 victory in open class company, taking his record to 24 wins from 44 starts and stakes-earnings of $296,675.
A half brother to champion kiwi mare Allegro Agitato, Skyvalley is out of the former 2 and 3yo NZ Trotter of the Year Chiola’s Lass, with the dual Breeders Crown winner bred by Sean McCaffrey, Denis Lauren and Dr Philippa Gerard.