The Kaye Matthews Tribute presentation L-R (back) Phil Matthews, Ross Matthews, Todd Matthews; (front) SHRC president Geoff Sanderson, Kerryn Manning, Colene Matthews, Greg Matthews, Peter Manning, Kristy Matthews. Picture: MICHELLE DE’LISLE
STAWELL - The world's greatest female harness race driver, Kerryn Manning can now add the Kaye Matthews Tribute to her list of achievements.
Kerryn teamed up with her father, trainer Peter Manning and his horse Ben Cartwright to take out one of two feature races at Laidlaw Park on Monday.
The win was one of three for the Great Western based pair, with Ben Cartwright, Hackashaq and Indulgent all too good for their rivals.
Ben Cartwright was sitting three wide in the middle of the 2175 metre race before finding the front at the bell.
Kerryn then let him go and he stormed to victory easily, finishing over 19 metres in front of second placed Flaxton Filly.
Peter Manning praised the three year old's performance.
"It was very good," he said.
"He's been going well since a spell and we've been getting him fitter and fitter."
It was Ben Cartwright's third win out of his past four starts and he will now head over the border to Adelaide to contest a Driver's Race on Saturday.
This was the 10th running of the Kaye Matthews Tribute and the last two had been held at Tabcorp Park, Melton before it was decided to return the race to Laidlaw Park.
Greg Matthews spoke on behalf of the Matthews family, while Kerryn Manning was presented with a Sheer Illusions lingerie pack and Peter Manning accepted a winning rug.
Earlier in the day Hackashaq was the first to record victory for the Mannings, taking out the 2175 metre Barham Insurance Agencies (3YO) Trotters Handicap.
The gelding was outside the leader at the bell and went to the line to win by 1.2 metres in front of Jaden Gil.
Hackashaq narrowly missed out on a track record, recording a very impressive mile rate of 2:07.9.
The record belongs to stablemate Earl Harbour with 2:07.1.
Trainer Peter Manning was delighted with the gelding's second career win in his second race back from a five month spell.
"He's only a three year old. He won two year old races and ran a lot of placings and has started the season off well."
Hackashaq will race tonight at Tabcorp Park and Manning said he should 'be up there' among the placings.
The win made up for a shock loss for Peter and Kerryn in the first race, Stawell Florist Lillies & Lattes Restaurant Trot.
Heza Maori was short priced favourite and outside the leader throughout, but fell short at the line, with Barry Ainsworth-trained Betterthan Gold flashing home to win by 1.4 metres.
Kerryn then struck success again with Indulgent claiming the first of the Vicbred Platinum Country Series K heats.
Indulgent was running three wide without cover at the bell and with a slick final quarter of 29.5, passed the post to win by 2.4 metres in front of Ima Lucky Guy.
It was the four year's first win since July last year and first race since August.
Indulgent had a six month break following a throat operation in which he had his pallet tied back to overcome breathing difficulties.
Since then, the gelding hasn't looked back and recorded his second career win at Stawell.
"He went alright and has been working well," Peter Manning said.
"He couldn't have drawn any worse today. Now he's in the finals, which are usually harder."