Vinnie to take another shot at metro glory in Rising Stars Final

Sam Barker is hoping to wipe away the disappointment of last month when he lines up Ultimate Vinnie in this Saturday night’s Benstud Standardbreds Rising Stars Pace Final at Melton.

The young Ballarat-based trainer-driver landed the biggest victory of his career on October 21 when the four-year-old flashed home along the sprint lane to claim the $20,000 Woodlands Stud Pace at big odds.

Or at least he thought.

Barker and Ultimate Vinnie were eventually stripped of the race when Rodney Petroff, the driver of runner-up Major Delico, successfully protested against the winner, who was relegated to second for racing inside the marker pegs along the home straight.

It was a bitter blow for Barker, but he remains confident the son of Alta Christiano has what it takes to prevail at metropolitan level.