SPORT: Len Baker’s Sulky Snippets
An impressive winner at the Cranbourne fixture on Sunday May 18 was the cleverly named 3Y0 Vincent-Bettor Be Aware gelding Vinni The Gangster.
Trained at Girgarre by former Tasmanian Kristy Butler assisted by husband Mark the horse is raced by a large Tasmanian syndicate headed by Mark including Mel Robertson the wife of trots caller Matt.
Driven by Murchison East reinsman Ryan Sanderson Vinni The Gangster was badly away from gate four tailing out as View The Art led from gate three.
Gradually creeping closer to race exposed from the bell, Vinni The Gangster showed great heart on turning to gain the day by a neck from Sea Silk (three pegs from outside the front line) which flashed late.
Eebeebee a stablemate of the winner was third a head away after trailing the leader from gate two and using the sprint lane. The mile rate 2-01.
6 events at Terang
- Western District racing at Terang opened the week on Monday May 19 with a small six event program.
Hamilton’s Jackie Barker a regular driver of winners was successful aboard lightly raced 6Y0 Skyvalley-Backina Lifetime gelding Aldebaran Anton which she races in the Terang Co-Op Rural Store Maiden Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres.
Trained by grandfather Jim, Aldebaran Anton having start number eighteen (4 placings) led throughout from gate three bowling along at his leisure.
Although the favourite Tricky Diamond (one/one – three wide home turn) issued a challenge on turning, Aldebaran Anton held him at bay to score by 1.1 metres. Itgetsbetter (three pegs from gate two on the second line was third 6.2 metres back after switching to trail the winner approaching the final bend and using the sprint lane. The rate 2-05.7. - Burrumbeet trainer/driver Michael Stanley has been in form of late and landed the WA Molan and Sons Maiden Pace over 2180 metres with Soho Hudson, a 3Y0 gelded son of Bettors Delight and Soho Nolita bred and raced by W.A. millionaire Robert Watson. Making his second appearance at the races.
Soho Hudson was hard driven from gate five to cross Livermere (gate two) before defying all challenges to stall off Go My Son (gate three – one/one – three wide last lap) – outside the winner on turning, going down by 2 metres in a mile rate of 2-01. Media Mogul (one/two – one/one home turn from a solo second line draw) was third 4.5 metres away. - Meredith co-trainers Emmett and Richard Brosnan were victorious with consistent 4Y0 gelding Jack Sprat in the Wheelie Waste Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres.
Given a sweet passage on the back of the leader Sonarmi Joh which flew away from gate six, Jack Sprat (Muscle Mass-Une Bella Allure) angled away from the markers to be one/one on the home turn after the pacemaker had been pressured by Old Villa Boy outside him.
Finishing best, Jack Sprat scored easily by 11.7 metres in advance of Icicle from near last, with Sonarmi Joh holding down third a nose away. The mile rate 2-01.
At Shepparton
- The regular Shepparton fixture took place on Tuesday and Ardmona’s Donna Castles who does a great job with her team assisted by partner Doc Wilson snared the Bicknell Signs Pace over 1690 metres with speedy 5Y0 Yankee Rockstar-U R Whatu Eat mare Mussel Shoals who chalked up her 4th victory in 29 outings. Beginning with a wing on every foot from outside the front line to clear the field running into the first bend, Mussel Shoals raced and bred by loyal client Greg Corbett ran his rivals ragged to record a 2.1 metre margin over Soho Playgirl (gate two second line) which went forward to race exposed off a three wide trail in the early stages. Rank outsider Miss Piggy Wiggy (three pegs from gate two) was third 7.3 metres away. The mile rate 1-57.3.
- Echuca trainer Fred McKenner was successful with 5Y0 Betting Line-Glenferrie Shuffle gelding Line Dance in the 1690 metre Hygain Pace.
Driven by Jack Laugher, Line Dance a winner of five going into the race settled three back along the markers from the pole enjoying a cosy passage, before using the sprint lane to charge home late and defeat Rockaway Beach (gate five second row) from mid-field in the running line, with Maas Betting Again (gate three after leading before taking a trail on Our Princess Di (gate five) and easing outside the pacemaker on the final bend third. The margins a half head by a nose in a thrilling finish with inches between the first five placegetters. The mile rate 1-56.5. - Kialla trainer/driver Bec Bartley landed the Central Tyre Service Trotters Mobile over 2190 metres with Betsy Anne, a 6Y0 daughter of Bacardi Lindy and Sunshine Annie bringing up two wins in succession.
Given the run of the race from gate three on the back of the leader 10Y0 gelding Kota Bharu (gate five), Betsy Anne finished hard along the sprint lane to prevail by 2.8 metres from the pacemaker returning a mile rate of 2-05.4. Money Talks after being taken back from outside the front line to the rear was third 3 metres back after going forward three wide solo in the last lap. - Nine-year-old Red Samurai-Starlights Silver mare Starlight Red scored her 18th success when taking the 2190 metre Jarvis Delahey Contractors Pty Ltd Trotters Mobile.
Trained at Bunbartha by Brian Bourke, Starlight Red having her 185th race start was driven as usual by Laura Wilson and after settling three back in the moving line as Faith Full scorched away from outside the front line to lead for Jamie Egan and Cam Maggs.
Going forward with a rush in the last lap to almost join the leader which galloped on the final bend allowing Starlight Red to dash away when Faith Full galloped, Starlight Red greeted the judge 4.5 metres in advance of Suzys Dream (gate four one/three) in a mile rate of 2-05. Kalarney Prince held up four pegs from inside the second line ran home when clear for third 3.2 metres away. In winning, Starlight Red boosted her stake earnings to over $116,000.
Two meetings
- Two meetings Wednesday Maryborough in the day and Bendigo at night.
In what’s been a tough few weeks for Mitchellstown trainer/driver Kylie Sugars and family, the gods were smiling after first starter Ijustcalledtosay, a Love You-Betty Hall colt was victorious in the 1690 metre VHRC / Mazzetti Painting 3Y0 Maiden Trotters Mobile.
Raced by a strong South Australian representation headed by Jamie Braidwood, Ijustcalledtosay spent most of the race exposed from outside the front line proving superior to her rivals in accounting for Amartey (gate two second line) which followed her throughout after easing three wide on the final bend. Princess Du Fer (three pegs from gate three) used the sprint lane for third. The margins 2.8 by 8.3 metres in a mile rate of 2-00.3. - Percydale (Avoca area) owner/trainer John Hurrell brought up two wins in succession with 6Y0 Betting Line-Diamond Rock gelding Apex in the VHRC / Woodlands Stud Trotters Handicap over 2190 metres.
Driven once again by Jackie Barker, Apex began swiftly from the 20 metre mark to be racing uncovered at the judge on the first occasion outside the polemarker Massif Central and with no cover coming, did it tough but did it well to score by 2.4 metres from the heavily supported Charlie Walker (10m) which trailed angling to be one/one on the home turn. Surprise To Me (four pegs from 10 metres) was third along the sprint lane a head away. The mile rate 2-04.7. - Swan Marsh (Colac area) trainer Paul Castle and the Castle family were winners when 5Y0 Sweet Lou-Sunday Rose mare Quick Decision scored in the VHRC / Australian Pacing Gold Concession Drivers Pace over 1690 metres. Driven by Ballarat’s Reagen Clarke, Quick Decision was taken back from outside the front line to settle five back in the moving lane as polemarker Caledonian Terra led copping plenty of pressure throughout the race from Yankee Gambler (gate four).
Gaining a double three wide trail forward on the back of both Hand Writer and Wheres Wood Wood in the final circuit, Quick Decision after making the final bend four wide, ran home best in a punishing finish to greet the judge by 2.1 metres over Adieu Mikennis (one/one from gate five) in a 1-57.1 mile rate. Yankee Gambler stuck on well for third a half head away. - Veteran Melton trainer Rob O’Connell has enjoyed many happy moments in the sport including the 1994 Victoria Derby with Khans Thunder and added another victory to his CV when heavily backed 4Y0 American Ideal-Brighty Valentine gelding Handler in the VHRC / GBL Properties Pace over 1690 metres.
Driven by Jordan Leedham, Handler was quickly extricated from inside the second line to possie with most of the field ahead of him as Im Wesley flew away from outside the front line before being eased to take a sit on Can Be A Ruebe (gate four).
Going forward with a rush three wide in the last lap, Handler although five wide on the home turn, finished with a wet sail to blowse the pacemaker by 2.4 metres returning a slashing mile rate of 1-54.5. Major Annie (three wide to outside the leader from gate three second line), battled on courageously for third 7 metres away. - At Bendigo, 7Y0 Majestic Son-Lady MacKendon revitalized gelding Mieliki chalked up his 11th success in 102 outings by taking the Prydes Easifeed Trotters Mobile over 2150 metres.
Coming out running from gate six, Mielicki trained at Daylesford by Anne-Maree Conroy and driven by regular reinsman Glenn Conroy (Anne-Maree’s brother), Mielicki after having a decent crack for the lead which was unavailable was left in the open as The Chook (gate three) led for Jack Laugher and Tayla Fellows. Gaining a short breather after Bullapark Beno had circled the field from the rear racing for the bell, Mielicki became pocketed in the last lap as Ox Knox (one/two) went forward three wide to put in a claim.
Switching to the sprint lane on turning, Mielicki dashed clear in the straight to gain the day by 1.9 metres over Ox Knox, with Bullapark Beno holding third a metre back. The mile rate 2-02.5. - Navarre trainer Toby Ainsworth landed the J & A Mazzetti Painting Trotters Mobile over 2150 metres with 7Y0 Great Success-Whata Tussle mare Beautiful Sunrise a four time winner going into the race.
Driven by Ada Massa, Beautiful Sunrise was trapped three wide from gate four as Christmas Babe showed her customary speed to lead easily from gate six.
Crossing to take the lead for the final circuit, Beautiful Sunrise coasted to the wire 7.7 metres clear of a death-seating Billy Zippin from outside the front line which battled on gamely. Midnite Muscle (one/two – three wide last lap from gate two on the second line) held third 2.8 metres back. The mile rate 1-59.4.
Ballarat fixture
- Ballarat was Thursday’s fixture and Bacchus Marsh breeder/owner/trainer Greg Carr was victorious with 5Y0 Village Jolt-Lively Princess gelding Lively Rascal in the Freighter Group 4Y0 & Older Maiden Pace over 2200 metres. Driven by granddaughter Hannah Parish, Lively Rascal (gate four) trailed the pacemaker Im The Wild One (gate three) before receiving a freak inside passage approaching the home turn to lead into the straight and record an easy 8.1 metre margin over American Victory (three wide last lap from near last) after starting from the extreme draw. Rank outside Orch (gate six) was third 14.3 metres away after following the winner throughout. The rate 1-57.8.
- Concongella (Stawell) part-owner/trainer/breeder Paul Rousch’s lightly raced 11Y0 Artesian-Hope Williams gelding Thelongroadknowhere registered his 12th success in 99 outings when taking the 2200 metre Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock Pace.
One of two winners on the night for 23-year- old Dunnstown reinsman Brent Murphy (the other Major Drama for father David), Thelongroadknowhere was quick to ease away from inside the second line to settle three back in the moving line following Breathe Easy starting from the extreme draw as the lead changed several times with polemarker Danceby-theseaside handing over to Freak Out (gate three) who then gave the front running to Snazola (gate four).
Easing three wide approaching the final bend, Thelongroadknowhere ran on best to defeat Breathe Easy, with Lollipop (gate six) a brave third after racing uncovered. The margins 2.9 by 1.6 metres in a mile rate of 2-00.1. - Bowenvale (Maryborough) owner/trainer Gerard Jamieson combined with Ballarat’s Ryan Duffy to land the 1710 metre Woodlands Stud 3Y0 Maiden Pace with first starter Daretodance a daughter of Sportswriter and The Ultimate Peg. Going forward to lead from gate six, Daretodance defied all challengers in defeating Whiskeydrinkingbill (three pegs from gate five) by 5.9 metres with Hold On Forever (one/two) third 7 metres away. The mile rate 1-56.9.
Len Baker