SPORT: Sulky Snippets with Len Baker
- The regular Tuesday night Shepparton fixture on March 4 with only six races programmed became five following a fall in the fifth event the Global Fencing Australia Pace after three of the runners Alta Bayamo (John Newberry), Villarock (Chris Alford) and Mussel Shoals (Donna Castles) were involved in an accident shortly after the start.
Alta Bayamo after galloping from gate three hung in and contacted Mussell Shoals who then checked Villarock with both divers being tipped out. With the ambulance still on the track turning into the back straight on the first occasion, stewards had no option but to abort the race. - Kialla breeder/owner/trainer Charlene Gusman opened proceeding when her 5Y0 Bettors Delight-Shes Norma Jean mare Clives Girl (named after her father) scored in the 1690 metre Thank You Colleen Boyington Pace. Driven by Monegeetta based Nick Beale, Clives Girl enjoyed a cosy passage from gate two on the back of the fast beginner Mynameisruby (gate three) before making full use of the sprint lane to prevail by 2.8 metres over Taste It (gate eleven – three wide last lap from the tail – very wide home turn) and Lavada Gold which followed the runner up home finishing 1.1 metres away. The mile rate 1-57.4.
- Avenel trainer/driver Juanita Breen was successful aboard 6Y0 Betting Line-Stylish Boulevard gelding Our Mystery Bet in the Abby and Abbey Facebook Pace over 1690 metres.
A winner at the track in January, Our Mystery Bet settled four back in the moving line from gate two following a number of moves from other runners as polemarker Crazy On The Beach led.
Easing three wide in the last lap and four wide on the final bend, Our Mystery Bet finished best to record a 1.1 metre margin in advance of Royale Blood which had been restrained from gate three to settle at the tail before going four wide in the last lap and running on strongly. Shezabluechip (gate five – three wide to shadow the leader at the bell) battled on gamely for third 3.9 metres away. The mile rate 1-57.2. - Mitchellstown trainer/driver Kylie Sugars snared the Cardamone Real Estate Pace over 1690 metres with Majors Creek, a 4Y0 daughter of Somebeachsomewhere and Major Missile.
Leading out from gate three, Majors Creek just lasted by a half head from Harley Blue which trailed from gate four looking to have her measure halfway up the running when easing off her back. Country Rockstar (outside the leader – one/one – one/two) ran on late for third 6.7 metres away. The mile rate 1-55.1. - Popular Congupna owner/trainer/driver Eddie Tappe’s honest 7Y0 Majestic Son-Aldebaran Peggy mare Abbie was a strong victor of the Pacing For Pink 4th May 2025 Trotters Mobile over 1690 metres.
Going forward from gate five, Abbie despite racing uncovered outside old timer Starlight Red (gate three) was too strong at the finish, greeting the judge by an easy 4.3 metres in a rate of 1-58.8 from Montana Muscle which trailed from the pole.
Silver Spoon (three pegs – one/one home turn) was third 2.6 metres back after starting from gate two on the second line.
Double Day
- Double day Wednesday saw Maryborough race in the afternoon with a small six event card and Bendigo at night featuring eight races.
The female gender showed the way at Maryborough with Ellen Tormey and Anne-Maree Conroy taking the first two events. Ellen Tormey was victorious aboard astute Muckleford trainer Chris Angove’s Muscle M Up-Ceejay Success filly Cee Jay On Broadway in the AB Paint 2Y0 Maiden Trotters Mobile over 1690 metres.
Given a sweet trip from gate six one/one for most of the race as the Brad Angove trained Maximum Courage led from gate four and What The Tooth moved to occupy the breeze, Cee Jay On Broadway after making the final bend three wide, finished best to register a head margin over Truscotts Elegance (one/two) and What The Tooth which took a narrow margin on the final bend finishing a head away. Maximum Courage held fourth a head away after being swallowed up in the closing stages in a tremendous finish. The mile rate 2-04.9. - Four year old Wishing Stone-Maori Aplomb mare With Aplomb bred and raced by Queensland’s Roy Spencer backed from $9 in the morning line to run at $3. chalked up her third victory in 32 outings by taking the 2190 metre Bartlett Manufacturing Trotters Mobile following some unlucky runs of late.
Trained and driven by Daylesford’s Anne Maree Conroy, With Aplomb was slowly away from gate three ending up four back in the moving line as local hope Mumstheword (gate two) led.
Going forward three wide in the last lap, With Aplomb was momentarily checked approaching the home turn when Mattyo which had joined the pacemaker went off stride veering out, but With Aplomb keeping in her gait, ran home fast out wide to score by 4,6 metres from Shadow Justice which followed her home.
Snickers Express (three pegs from a solo second line draw) used the sprint lane for third 5.8 metres away. The mile rate 2-01.1. - What a great mare Ships Spur-Earls Gold 8Y0 Black And Gold has been for connections breeder and part-owner Colleen Batson and Carisbrook part-owner/trainer/driver Brett (Shippy) Shipway, winning her 22nd victory at start number 196 (36 placings) by taking the Aldebaran Park Trotters Handicap over 2190 metres.
Having her third outing for the week including an unplaced effort at Birchip the previous Sunday, the ‘iron’ mare jumped straight to the front from the pole and was never headed, accounting for Mystery Fred (10m) from mid-field by 3.6 metres, with Champagne Charley (10m – four pegs) a head away third after being held up until turning. The mile rate of 2-03.3. - At Bendigo, Romsey trainer/driver Chris Svanosio’s 4Y0 Lucky Chucky-Calder Sun mare Promise Dream was outstanding in taking the 1650 metre Stonemans Village IGA and Liquor Strathdale Trotters Mobile.
Raced by a large syndicate headed by Clare Payne, Promise Dream (gate five) was trapped three wide for the entire trip before giving her all on straightening to gain the day by a half head from My High Peak (gate three second line) off a three wide trail last lap and Straight To Thetop (gate two) which led out before taking a trail on Dreams Of Love (gate three) which was extricated into the clear on turning. The mile rate 1-57.9. - Mitchellstown trainer/driver Kylie Sugars is in great form at present and provided 3Y0 Vincent-Night Vision gelding Momentum Shift to bring up two wins in a row when successful in the Woodlands Stud Pace over 1650 metres. Taken back from gate five to possie mid-field in the moving line as Maars Betting Again had crossed polemarker Feel The Reign from gate three, Momentum Shift after easing wide on turning finished with a rush to blouse Chasing Rex (gate three second line) – one/one three wide home turn to lead as the winning post loomed. Deuce Coupe (gate two second line) after racing parked held third. The margins a half neck by 3 metres in a 1-54.8 mile rate.
- Riddell co-trainers Chris Lang and Sonia Mahar produced a nice type by the name of Sky Spirit to land the Alabar Bloodstock Maiden Trotters Mobile over 2150 metres when making his race debut. A colt by Skyvalley from Sosoclassy bred and raced by Colin Rees, Sky Spirit starting from outside the front line went forward to park outside the pacemaker One More Move (gate six) and travelled beautifully.
When Speedy Comet (one/two) after causing a false start from gate three was set alight three wide in the last lap holding Im In Style (one/one) in a pocket from gate four, Sky Spirit given a bit more rein surged clear to lead approaching the final bend and raced clear, with Im In Style after getting clear running home late to be second a half neck away.
First starter Lillys Tiger (Ross Graham) ran home nicely from four pegs to be third 9.7 metres away. The mile rate 2-05.59.7.
Highs and lows
- Veteran Melton trainer Robbie O’Connell (73) has had his highs and lows during a lifetime in the industry winning a Victoria Derby in 1994 with Khans Thunder, E.B. Cochran Trotters Cup (Magicool 2021) and Silver Chalice (Stihletto 2004) to name just a few as well as many other handy races along the way while battling adversity and showing a great will to carry on.
At Ballarat’s on Thursday, Robbie produced 4Y0 American Ideal-Brighty Valentine gelding Handler first up since September 2024 to land the VHRC / Australian Pacing Gold Pace over 2200 metres.
Bred and raced by Ken Beck, Handler driven by Bendigo’s Liam Older starting from the extreme draw settled at the tail of the field as the heavily supported favourite Ideal Affair was driven with aggression from outside the front line to lead.
Trailing Major Bert ahead of him racing for the bell which moved outside the pacemaker momentarily, Handler raced exposed for the final circuit showing great courage on straightening to race away and score by a big 10.8 metre margin over Major Drama from a mile back, with Ideal Affair a neck away third and in doing so landed a hefty plunge. The mile rate 1-57.3. - Very reliable Wishing Stone-Pipiriki Lombo 6Y0 gelding Coconut Mickey trained at Toolern Vale by Paul Gabriel was a deserved winner of the 2200 metre VHRC / Aldebaran Park Trotters Mobile to register his 2nd success at start number 20, his previous victory being in December 2023.
Driven as usual by Chris Svanosio, Coconut Mickey began fast from gate four to lead throughout, accounting for polemarker Hillwinsome (three pegs – one/one home turn) after being promoted after The Dark Thunder which galloped over the concluding stages was relegated to third. The margins 1.1 by 1.6 metres in a mile rate of 2-02.7. - Local (Smythes Creek) part-owner/trainer Nathan Cahir combined with leading reinsman James (Herbie) Herbertson to land the VHRC / Renown Silverware Pace over 2200 metres with Nothing Sweeter, a 6Y0 Sweel Lou-Almihata mare Nothing Sweeter, leading virtually throughout from gate four to defeat old timer River Patrol (gate five) which led out by 11.2 metres. Polemarker Very Tempting was third 3.3 metres back after following the pair. The mile rate two minutes even.
- Another local winner was Snake Valley part-owner/trainer Lindsay Rogers after Hes Watching-Desiring Bella 7Y0 gelding Lester scored in the VHRC / GLB Properties Pace over 2200 metres.
Settling tree back in the moving line from the extreme draw for Connor Rohan as El Awoman and Jackie Barker led from gate three. Lester was badly held up in the last lap as runners made their moves out wide but going nowhere.
Extricating wide on the final bend, Lester flew home out wide to gain the day by 3.7 metres from rank outsider Orch the polemarker which trailed the leader angling off her back late. El Awoman was third 3.9 metres away. The mile rate 2-00.5. It was Lester’s first success since winning at Ballarat in April last year.
Friday venue
- Melton was Friday’s venue and Kilmore duo Maryanne Laffin and Steven (Bluey) Matson provided a surprise (?) long shot winner in 8Y0 Hes Watching-Angelica Rose gelding Topzavski ($18.00) who landed the 1720 metre Betavet Pace.
In what was most probably the ‘drive of the night’ by Bluey, Topzavski starting from gate two on the second line weaved a passage in-between runner to possie one/one as Zaras All Good led from gate three.
Easing three wide prior to the home turn, Topzavski finished solidly to register a 1.4 metre margin (his first since June 2024 at Echuca) over Silver Domino (gate four) who trailed him all the way. One Off mid-field from inside the second line was third out very wide a half neck back. The mile rate 1-59.7.
Len Baker