Brona’s Mike dominates Champion of Champions
Brona’s Mike, driven by Philip Correia, ended the harness season in a blaze of glory at Bermuda Equestrian Centre yesterday.
The gelding established multiple records en route to capturing the coveted Champion of Champions title under cloudy skies at the Devonshire facility.
Brona’s Mike, which races out of Inwood Stables, posted a blistering 1:02/4 in the second final heat to lower the track record for the season that previously stood at 1:03/4 while setting a lifetime best and new gelding’s track record in the process.
Correia’s racing pony, whose time in the second final heat was fourth fifths of a second off the track record held by retired stallion Big Red Machine, was declared Champion of Champions after completing the two-heat final with the fastest average time.
Brona’s Mike entered the final with the slowest qualifying time but struck form when it mattered most.
Second place honours went to Abbey’s Dream, driven by teenager Thomas “Cashew” Whited.
Abbey’s Dream, which races out of Tuckaway Farm, equalled her own mare’s track record after posting a 1:03/3 in the first final heat which is also a lifetime best.
Rounding off yesterday’s podium finishers was pre-race favourite, GV Crystal Ball, driven by the evergreen Eddie Roque.
Black & Mild, driven by Kiera Whited, also equalled the mare’s track record in the second final heat on the way to a fourth-place finish on average time.
The Champion of Champions was contested for by the season’s nine fastest ponies with the top four on average time following Saturday’s two qualifying heats advancing to yesterday’s final.