KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's latest Interdominion champion is the embodiment of hope.
When Galleons Sunset led throughout to win the A$250,000 Trotting Final at Moonee Valley on Saturday it capped a remarkable three months, during which he left here an unknown but will return a harness hero.
Galleons Sunset was
sent to Australia by his Auckland connections only because he struggled to bend his large frame around Alexandra Park with great success, and because they wanted to get away from what looked a star-studded local trotting crop.
Then trainer Derek Balle, who drove Galleons Sunset to victory on Saturday night, thought he could sneak into Melbourne, maybe steal a decent race and hang around for the Interdominions.
It was a trip fuelled by hope, rather than any specific notion that greatness awaited across the Tasman.
The early success came when Galleons Sunset won the Bill Collins Mile in December and then Balle and his new trainer, Victoria's Chris Lang, started to think they could get some money in an Interdominion set to be dominated by One Over Kenny.
The pieces of the puzzle started to fall their way. First Acacia Ridge, then Mountbatten and Houdini Star and finally Lang's best trotter, Sundons Gift pulled out of the series for one reason or another.
Then last week One Over Kenny was struck by an infection that clearly left her below her best and struggling toward the back of the field in the final.
And that left the dreamers, those who dared to take the chance with a soreness-plagued trotter standing in the Interdominion winners' circle.
As brave as Galleons Sunset has been in overcoming his constant battles with soreness you had to admire the courage of Balle for even dreaming up such a campaign.
And the belief of owners John Street and Graeme Blackburn for backing Balle's judgment, spending big money to chase what looked the impossible.
And Lang, Australia's Mr Trotting, who declared just minutes before the race, "we might be 30-1 but I think he can do it".
He was right as Balle sooled Galleons Sunset to the lead and avoided any mid-race pressure as One Over Kenny galloped and went back to last.
The leggy trotter did what the stock of Sundon love to do, trotting even sectionals and getting into a rhythm, one his opponents couldn't match.
At the line, Will Trapper was closing and Canterbury trotter My Rhythm Of The Night clung to third while excuses for the rest, outside the favourite, were hard to come by.
For Balle it was a strange sort of ecstasy, having been narrowly robbed of Interdominion glory twice with his great mare Martina H only to win it with a trotter who wouldn't rate in most people's top five in New Zealand.
"But ability has never been the problem with him, he just isn't as good at Alexandra Park," said Balle.
"He has come over here, Chris and I have worked hard to get him right and it all came together.
"Hey, we know he isn't as good as One Over Kenny but this was his race and we are thrilled to get it."
Galleons Sunset may come back to New Zealand for the start of next season and then become almost an Anzac trotting project, dividing his time between the two countries.
It will also go down as one of the most popular 30-1 winners in a big race, with Lang and Balle hugely popular men who have earned their stripes with good trotters and bad. Galleons Sunsets' owners, Street and Blackburn, have been massive investors in both racing codes, putting money in other people's pockets for years.
Few will begrudge them getting some back.
But, like all things in life, the win came with a price.
Balle has promised Lang's wife and chief cheerleader, Sharon, he would run down the Moonee Valley straight in his underwear if he won.
And Lang, terrified of heights, had vowed he would go parachuting.
After the race the men where taken to task and when Balle said he couldn't do it Lang replied.
"Well, if you aren't doing the streak I am not jumping out of a plane," said Lang. "Suits me. Deal," said Balle.
And with a handshake, and an Interdominion win, a transtasman friendship was sealed.
