DUNDAS, ON — The weather at Flamboro Downs on Sunday afternoon was brisk, and so was the racing as fans witnessed record setting miles in the three-year-old trotting colt Gold Final and the Confederation Cup Final.
Overwhelming favourite Majestic Son rocketed around the Flamboro Downs half-mile to a 1:55 victory in the sophomore trotting colt Gold Final. Majestic Son and Trevor Ritchie assumed command of the race just past the quarter mile marker and coasted under the wire in effortless fashion, six and one quarter lengths ahead of Indiana Hall and 12 and a half lengths up on Was It A Dream.
The mile stripped just over one second off the former 1:56.1 track and Ontario Sires Stakes record, set by Abbey Road C in 2002 and matched by Yorktown Gunner in last weekend’s elimination round.
Trained by Mark Steacy for the Majestic Son Stable of Lansdowne, the son of Angus Hall and Celtic Contessa has won seven of 10 starts this season, including the Goodtimes Trot and the Canadian Breeders Championship. The winner of $898,144 will make his next start in the Gold Series on Saturday, Aug. 26 at Georgian Downs.
Two races before Majestic Son brought the enthusiastic crowd to their feet, Australian Stock captured his third straight victory with a 2:01.3 effort in the two-year-old trotting colt Gold Final.
With Chris Christoforou, Jr. at the helm, Australian Stock carved out all the fractions on his way to a one and one-quarter length victory over Think Gold and Lemon Drop.
Charalambos Christoforou of Campbellville and Banjo Farms of Toronto bred and own Australian Stock, who posted his first win of the season in the Aug. 7 Gold Final at Grand River Raceway. Since then the Angus Hall son has been flawless, capturing his elimination last weekend in track record time and easily defending his Gold Final title.
The Roy Jeffries trainee will not take aim on a third Gold Final title until Sept. 24 at Mohawk Racetrack.
In between the Confederation Cup Eliminations and the Final, fans had an opportunity to see a group of youngsters who could star in next year’s feature race, as the top two-year-old pacing colts in the province went head-to-head in their fourth $130,000 Gold Final.
When the dust settled long shot Au Revoir Ace had pulled off a stunning upset, closing from seventh at the three-quarter pole to catch favourite Semalu Express and pace away to a two and three-quarter length victory. Rick Zeron piloted Au Revoir Ace to the 1:54.3 upset, which left Semalu Express to settle for second and Gimme A Grin another length back in third.
Marco Lanoie of Lac Simon, QC bred, owns and trains Au Revoir Ace, who finished second to Sergei Seelster in last week’s elimination round. The win was the son of Aces N Sevens and $124,008 winner Ritchie Girl’s second through nine starts this season, with his other victory coming in the Serie Quebec Plus Distinction at Hippodrome De Montreal on July 28.
Au Revoir Ace will try and capture a third victory in the two-year-old pacing colts’ last Gold Series event on Sept. 23 at Mohawk Racetrack.
Following Au Revoir Ace’s stirring upset, fans were treated to a flawless effort by favourite Armbro Deuce in the Confederation Cup Final. The Blair Burgess trainee, in rein to George Brennan, delivered a commanding performance to earn the victory in a track, Canadian and world record 1:50.2. Western Ace and former Gold Series winner Secluded Island rounded out the top three in the $508,000 Cup Final.
For complete results please go to:
http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rflmdsu.html