Arden Rooney storms to Geelong Cup win

STAR pacer Arden Rooney made it three feature races in a row when he stormed to victory in the Geelong Pacing Cup at Beckley Park on Saturday night.

The Kerryn Manningtrained and driven gelding was forced three wide early after drawing in the back row.

But that early work showed no sign of taking a toll as he steamrolled his way to a 8.2m win in the $25,000 race.

The win gave Manning the ultimate bragging rights over partner Grant Campbell, whose horse National Service ran on strongly for second.

Last year’s winner and second favourite, Chilli Palmer, finished a distant third, 16.9m off the winner.

Locally trained Arber finished fifth despite being one of the outsiders in the field.

Arden Rooney’s win continues a sizzling run of form which has seen him claim the Hunter Cup and Terang Cup in his previous two starts.

Bellmac Kody won the night’s other feature race, the James & Son McNamara Memorial Trotters Cup.

MEANWHILE, Geoff Webster’s Flaming Flutter ran out of his skin to finish second in the Inter Dominion Grand Final at Menangle in NSW.

Enjoying a sit just off the leaders, Flaming Flutter got clear running late but couldn’t chase down winner Beautide.

Webster was able to go one better in the Group 1 Bohemia Crystal, driving and training Franco Ledger to victory.

The well-backed Franco Ledger made a sustained run three deep and pulled away from a strong field to win the Group 1 race comfortably.

Webster’s other Group 1 runner, Du Vella, was unplaced in the New South Wales Oaks.