SPORT: Sulky Snippets with Len Baker
- Terang was the venue to commence the week on Monday April 28 and what an entertaining eight event card it was.
Berringa co-trainers Al and Beau Tindale caused an upset in the feature event of the evening – the Gammalite Pace over 1680 metres.
Driven by Kerryn Manning, Odin began fast from the pole but not as quick as Mattie Craven’s Young Bluey the recent Mildura Cup winner which flew away from gate six to lead. Kate Gath aboard the favourite and solo second liner Yambukian wasted no time in going forward to race exposed shadowing the leader all of the way.
Looking to have the race in his keeping on the final bend as Yambukian was under extreme pressure, Young Bluey raced clear with stablemate Bettor Isolate after easing three wide from one/one looking dangerous, however it was Odin using the sprint lane to blouse Young Bluey by a nose in a tricky finish. Yambukian fought on doggedly for third 1.1 metres back. The mile rate 1-54.7. - Dunnstown based part-owner/trainer John Murphy provided a major upset after Hes Watching-Champagne Heaven 4Y0 mare Bon Viveur with nephew Brent Murphy aboard scored in the 1680 metre MWE Electrical Pace, paying Supertab fixed odds of $106.
Settling three back in the moving line from gate four as pole marker Keayang Queenie on debut backed into an odds-on favourite led from the pole.
Weaving in-between runners on straightening, Bon Viveur making her fourth race appearance flashed home to register a 1.4 metre margin over another roughie Our Eyes Emoji (gate two second line) at $61.00 which had gone forward to race parked before dashing clear on turning.
The Devils Flame (gate four second line) ran on late from five back in the moving line at the bell for third 2.4 metres away. The mile rate 1-59.2. - Hamilton duo David Lewis and Jackie Barker joined forces to capture the Christians Bus Lines Pace over 1680 metres with Didafull Oneeighty, a 5Y0 daughter of Betting Line and All Perfection raced and bred by David and Terry Lewis.
Slotting in three back in the running line from gate two on the second row, Didafull Oneeighty commenced a forward move three wide solo in the last lap to outstay Ynobe Dakota which had raced parked by a half head.
Keayang Galliano (four pegs from the extreme draw) angled away from the inside in the last lap to be three wide with double trail running into the final bend for third 5.2 metres away. The mile rate 1-55.6. - Mount Gambier owner/trainer Christine Drury combined with Hamilton’s Jackie Barker to snare the Mt Noorat Freighters Maiden Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres with 5Y0 Aldebaran Eagle-Sundons Babe 5Y0 gelding Aldebaran Buddy giving her first winner.
Retaining the front running from the pole, Aldebaran Buddy defield all challengers to register a 1.9 metre victory over Exasperation (five pegs – uncovered from the bell). Lady Suspicious (gate three) was third for John and Paddy Meade after following the winner and using the sprint lane to no avail. The mile rate of 2-05 was nothing special, but the victory was.
Six at Shepp
- The regular Shepparton fixture was held on Tuesday with a small six event card.
Congupna trainer/driver Eddie Tappe who is experiencing his best season ever was successful with 7Y0 Majestic Son-Aldebaran Peggy mare Abbie in the Thank You Bruce Phillips Pacing For Pink Trotters Mobile over 1690 metres.
Despite racing uncovered from gate four as Lizzies Son (gate three) crossed Starlight Red (gate two), Abbie surged clear in the last start opening up a big margin on her rivals and showing no sign of stopping, scored by 1.2 metres from Starlight Red, with Midnight Muscle starting outside the front line coming from the tail for third 3.4 metres back. The mile rate 2-00.6. - Local Girgarre duo Lisa (trainer) and Mark Pitt (driver) scored a big 12.9 metre victory with Ride High-Gleniss Mama filly Ride The Highs in the SHRC 1690 metre Jam Packed Catering 2Y0 Maiden Pace.
Having her second outing, Ride The Highs (gate five) was trapped three wide as the start was effected before being restrained as pole marker Elliana retained the front running.
With Mark putting the foot down, Ride The Highs showed great speed to cross and lead at the bell and toyed with her rivals in defeating La Smooch which raced uncovered from the bell. Elliana held third a half head away. The mile rate 1-58.1. - The Bruces Shave For A Cause Concession Drivers Pace went the way of Allendale trainer Adam Stephens’ evergreen 12Y0 I Am The Way-Alberts Belle gelding Iamawingate who chalked up his 23rd victory at start number 214. Driven by Creswick’s Hannah Parish, Iamawingate settled three back in the running line after extricating from inside the second line shortly after the start with Major Bill (gate five) flying out to lead.
Gaining a three wide trail on the back of Clives Girl from last in the back straight, Iamawingate was sent forward four wide prior to the home turn and ran home best to defeat Clives Girl by a nose returning a mile rate of 2-00.1. Royale Blood (gate two second line – five wide home turn after being shuffled back at the bell) was third a half neck back.
Back in form
- Bendigo raced on Wednesday with a big nine race program catering for most classes highlighted once again by the trotters.
Bec Morrissey’s 7Y0 Love You-Sundons Pride mare Tictok is back in form and brought up two wins in a row by taking the Garrards Horse and Hound Trotters Handicap over 2150 metres.
Again with Michael Bellman in the cart, Tictok began safely from 10 metres before going off stride shortly, but only for a few strides before moving to be one/one trailing Salski . Setting off three wide solo in the last lap as she had done a week earlier, Tictok effortlessly strode clear coming off the final bend to coast home by 11.2 metres, accounting for Royal Charlotte (barrier four) which had followed the leader Aristotle (barrier five), with Link In Bio (10m) coming from five pegs to make the final bend five wide 8.3 metres away third. The mile rate 2-02.1.
n Well supported first starter Bruiser Alm, a 6Y0 Creatine-Emma De Vie gelding trained at Marong by John Mamouney for the Mamouney family was impressive in landing the Forty Winke 4Y0 and Older Maiden Trotters Mobile over 2150 metres.
Driven by Heathcote’s Sean O’Sullivan, Bruiser Alm led throughout from gate five and after being rated to perfection, greeted the judge 3.7 metres in advance of Equal And Opposite (one/two – three wide to outside the winner from the extreme draw, before dropping to trail the winner at the bell. Money Talks (gate two – four pegs) was third 3.6 metres away. The mile rate 2-06.3. - The Nigel Milne Harness Racing (Insanity Lodge) Pace saw Tasmanian trainer Michael Lauger victorious with Hurrikane Kingcole-Miss Ruthless mare I Of The Hurrikane in a rate of 1-58.3.
In what was the ‘drive of the night by son Jack, I Of The Hurrikane was trapped uncovered from gate three as Delightful Charm led from the pole.
When John Caldow sooled Smart And Mighty from the rear to race in the open at the bell, I Of The Hurrikane received the cover he was looking for.
Angling three wide in the back straight on the final occasion following Byrnside Boom (three wide from one four), Jack immediately angled I Of The Hurricane down to the sprint lane on turning and finishing best, prevailed by a head from Byrnside Boom and Mister Jimaringle (one/two from gate four) who was a half neck away.\
Memorial night
- Kilmore’s second memorial night of paying homage to past district competitors was held last Thursday May 1, the races named after JP (Jack) McKay, Jack Knight, Dick Barber, Allan Knight, Charles Bell and Don Dove on a six race program where times were quick.
The JP McKay Memorial Pace commenced the program with Plumpton trainer/driver Paul Grech’s 6Y0 Camlach-Christmas Cleo gelding Popcorn Friday the victor.
Settling near last from gate three on the second line, Popcorn Friday who had six wins to his credit followed Hittheroadjack (gate four second line) forward from four back in the last lap to make the home turn very wide, before flashing down the extreme outside of the track on turning to record a nose decision over Olivia Rose (gate two) along the sprint lane after trailing the poleline pacemaker Hurrikane Dusty. Hittheroadjack was third a head away after trailing the well backed Handler from well back forward prior to the home turn. In a thriiling finish Hittheroadjack was third a head away. The mile rate 1-55.8. - The Jack Knight Memorial Cranbourne 7000 Pace (1st Heat) over 1690 metres was another close finish with Coimadai trainer Anthony Spiteri combining with Adrian Pace aboard 7Y0 Falcon Seelster-Lorimerjane gelding Caruso Star in a mile rate of 1-57.5.
Taken back from outside the front line to settle five back in the moving line as Highview Hammer led from gate five, Caruso Star who had eight wins to his credit gained a lovely three wide trail home on the back of last week’s Kilmore winner Blackmirra which had mde a long run from the tail.
Sweeping on the leaders out wide on turning, Caruso Star bloused a sprint laning Isolation (three pegs) from inside the second line to gain the decision by a head. Yankee Mojoh was third 6.9 metres back after racing exposed from gate three. - Elliminyt (Western District) part-owner/trainer Julie Brimacombe landed the 2180 metre Dick Barber Memorial Pace with 6Y0 Tintin In America-Hula Gold mare Ittakesluv giving Dunnstown’s Brent Murphy another winner for the week.
Beginning best to lead from gate three, Ittakesluv defied all challengers to just last by a head from Onecrowdedhour (one/two from inside the second line which ran on strongly out wide on turning.
Littheblabbermouth (gate four) was third a head back after racing to the front on the final bend after facing the breeze. The mile rate 2-01.7. - Nine year old Bettors Delight-Eastern Lookout gelding Tex Goes Bang trained at Sutton Grange by Ross Graham chalked up his 10th success at start 114 when greeting the judge in the 2180 metre Allan Knight Memorial Pace in a 2-02.5 mile rate.
With Bendigo’s Liam Older in the sulky, Tex Goes Bang (gate two second line) angled four wide from one/two on turning to rush home and score by 4.3 metres from Joeys Hangover (four pegs from inside the second line – to follow the winner home), with Park Run (gate two – one/one) third 1.3 metres back. - The Charles Bell Memorial over 2180 metres saw 3Y0 Stonebridge Regal-Lotasilkari gelding Lotakevi return to the winners list for the first time since September last year. Driven by Ross Payne, Lotakevi was given the run of the race from gate two following Favouritehighlight which had gone forward when trapped wide from gate four to lead.
Appearing to have the race in his keeping on turning with a handy lead, Lotakevi trained by John McGillivray at Croydon rallied along the sprint lane to score by 2.2 metres in a mile rate of 2-03.
Micton Mouse starting inside the second line quickly angled into the running line four back before making a long run three wide in the last lap to finish third 2.8 metres back. - The Don Dove Memorial Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres went to 6Y0 Bacardi Lindy-Always Treasure mare Dona Amalia for Charlton’s John Tormey with Jack Laugher in the sulky.
Starting from the pole which was not much value to her, Dona Amalia was crossed by Kalarney Prince (gate four) which surrendered to Perfect Peak (gate six) putting her four pegs racing for the bell after Stick With Me (gate two) assumed control.
Extricated into the clear on straightening, Don Amalia rounded up her rivals with ease halfway up the running to register a 1.3 metre victory (her 7th in 37 race appearances) over solo second liner Rymes (one/two – three wide last lap after a slow beginning). Stick With Me held third 6.5 metres back. The mile rate 2-04.1.
Just Briefly
- What a day it was for Horsham based 18 year old reinsman Ryan Backhouse at Mildura on Friday after driving five winners on the eight event card. They being – Out Yonda (Malcolm Retallick – Ouyen), Unethical (Shane Osborn – Coomealla), Shireen (Rocco Villiva – Red Cliffs), To The Nines – Jeff Gadsden – Merbein) and Ozzie Daybreak – Noel Cameron – Gol Gol).
- Bonny trotting mare Queen Elida was retired after finishing her illustrious career with a third in last Friday’s $200,000 Rowe Cup at Alexandra Park Auckland, taking her earnings to over $200,000.
Len Baker