SPORT: Len Baker’s Sulky Snippets
\The official Greg Sugars Memorial was scheduled to be held at Melton Entertainment Park on Monday (May 12). .
Trotting tracks Australia wide, plus several overseas venues and industry participants have been paying tribute to Greg Sugars since the tragic news came through on Saturday April 26 of his unexpected passing. but nothing could match the result of the Heuslers Echuca Pace held at Bendigo on Tuesday April 7 when the aptly named 4Y0 gelding Hes From Heaven, a gelded son of Sweet Lou and Dreams From Heaven, raced by Ron and Robert Anderson, trained by Jess Tubbs and driven by James Herbertson carrying Greg’s red and green colours charged home out wide to win the race.
Settling three back in the moving line from a solo second line draw as Dessie Gee ($5) began fast from outside the front row to lead with the favourite Rakajet ( $2.40 – gate four) vacating a one/one spot to race exposed, Hes From Heaven appeared to have a task in winning with virtually no changes being made, the exception being Rakajet which had swapped spots with the rank outsider The Croupier ($40).
Going forward to make the home turn four wide, there wouldn’t have been a dry eye on track as Hes From Heaven produced what was required and finished full of running to register a 1.5 metre margin over Dessie Gee, with Tooram Cee Cee using the sprint lane off the back of the leader for third a half head in front of Rakajet. In quarters of 28.2, 31.8, 28.4 and 27.5, Hes From Heaven returned a mile rate of 1-55.9.
Young dominate
- A quiet time for the trots with Mildura starting off the week last Tuesday with a seven race card and it was the younger brigade who dominated the meeting.
Charlton based Luke Dunne (19) with a treble and Horsham’s Ryan Backhouse also 19 the same.
Luke’s winners were Lombok (Zac Steenhuis – Charlton) the Australian Gold Pace over 1790 metres, Le Spartacus (Boris Devcic – Irymple the Jade Benham Member For Mildura Pace over 2190 metres and Apology Accepted (Andrew Vozlic – Mildura – the 1790 metre McDonalds Irymple and Mildura Pace, While Ryan Backhouse saluted aboard Ozzie Daybreak (Noel Cameron – Gol Gol) the Zilzie Wines Pace over 2190 metres, Shireen (Rocco Villiva – Red Cliffs) the 1790 metre Laser Signs and Print Pace and To The Nines (Jeff Gadsden – Merbein) the 2190 metre Club Merbein Pace who was the most impressive of the six after leaving the one/one from gate three to be caught wide and working to find the front mid-race.
Murchison’s Ryan Sanderson provided the other winner on the night which was Hesastar (Andrew Vozlic) in the Club Aquarius Pace over 1790 metres.
Two meetings
- The mandatory two meetings on Wednesday were Maryborough in the afternoon and Bendigo at night.
Ten year old Red Samarui-Spinster Clare gelding Buslin Brody has an amazing record of winning at big odds and did it again at Maryborough when taking the Redpath Tyre & Battery Service Trotters Mobile over 2190 metres paying odds of $26.00 on the fixed market, but $46.00 on the tote parimutual betting. Driven by Kyneton’s Joe Attard who won a Redwood Classic at the same track aboard Ghia back in 1991, Buslin Brody starting from the pole enjoyed a cosy passage trailing the leader Dels Destiny (gate two) before using the sprint lane to prevail by 2.4 metres over the pacemaker. Bullapark Beno ran on late from mid-field after being taken back from outside the front line for third 1.2 metres away. The mile rate 2-02. It was Buslin Brody’s 12th success in 98 outings, his last being at Shepparton in January at odds of $34.00.
n Honest 7Y0 Majestic Son-Lady Mackendon gelding Mielicki chalked up his 10th victory at start number 100 when successful in the 2190 metre Peter Egan Bi-Rite Trotters Mobile. Trained at Daylesford by Anne-Maree Conroy and driven by regular reinsman brother Glenn, Mielicki settled three back in the running line from gate four on the second line as Charlie Walker led from gate two.
When Alfie Always angled three wide approaching the final bend, Mielicki followed him into the race and ran home strongly to gain the day by 2.7 metres over Alfie Always returning a mile rate of 1-59.7. Polemarker Midnite Muscle used the sprint lane for third after trailing the weakening leader 5.1 metres away. - Barham part-owner/trainer Jeff Cakebread’s Vincent-Ideal Velocity 4Y0 gelding Leonard was a strong victor of the 2190 metre Benstud Pace. Driven by James Herbertson, Leonard was beaten for speed from gate two as both Capitalism (gate five) and Vincent Grange (gate four) began best with Leonard settling three pegs. Coming away from the inside to face the open prior to the bell, Leonard received cover after Im All Business mase a swift move forward from the tail to join the leader with a circuit to travel.
Angling three wide on the final bend, Leonard did best to score by a neck over a game Im All Business, with Quick Decision (gate six) running on late from a mile back for third. The mile rate 1-58.8. - At Bendigo, Elliminyt (Colac) owner/breeders Ian and Judy Slater were successful with 3Y0 Captain Crunch-Luvumoves gelding Goodtime Captain in the Great Ocean Road Real Estate Pace over 1650 metre for 0-2 wins class. Backed for plenty. Goodtime Captain with Josh Duggan aboard wasn’t pushed out from gate five lobbing one/two as Jilliby Tidalwave led from gate three.
Once balanced, Goodtime Captain was sent forward to effortlessly cruise to the front racing for the bell, before defying all challengers to greet the judge two metres clear of Iamahunter (one/four off a three wide trail from gate two on the second line). King Saint from the extreme draw which followed the winner home was third a half neck back. The mile rate 1-56.3. - Sedgwick part-owner/trainer Shane Hall’s handy 6Y0 Sebastian K-Hilltown Ashley mare Montana Chevelle chalked up her 7th victory from 44 outings when taking the Apco Service Stations Strathdale and Kangaree Flat Trotters Mobile over 2150 metres.
Driven by John Caldow who has partnered her on many occasions, Montana Chevelle was eased back from outside the front line as the start was effected settled at the tail as roughie Melbrah led from gate three.
When Allwatfunjingles which had raced uncovered from gate five momentarily hit the front approaching the home turn, he was immediately tackled by Jetaway Saint (one/two) with Montana Cheval three wide joining in and Abbie which had been extricated from four pegs issuing a challenge four wide as Montana Cheval raced to the front.
Fighting on strongly, Montana Cheval had a 2.4 metre margin up her sleeve to defeat Abbie which ran up to her recent form, with polemarker Kalarney Prince after angling five wide on turning from three pegs third a half head away third. The mile rate 2-03. - Balliang trainer Tyrone Abela who always turns his horses out looking a picture was victorious with Elite Stride-Peggyhall gelding Jays All That in the Aldebaran Park 2Y0 Trotters Mobile after putting the writing on the wall when narrowly beaten at Melton on April 24. Driven by Jodi Quinlan, Jays All That (gate two) was given the run of the race one/one looking the winner a long way out as Pastor Stephen first starter Hallebesofine led from gate three.
When Vance Lane (0ne/two) moved up three wide running into the final bend, Jays All That was momentarily pocketed, but once into the clear after Vance Lane dropped off, quickly put the result beyond doubt to register a 4.4 metre margin over Hallebesofine who ran well. Polemarker African Gala was third 35.7 metres away third after trailing the runner up. Raced by Carmen Abela, Jays All That returned a 2-08.5 mile rate.
At Ballarat
- Ballarat raced on Thursday with only six races which was so rare for the top ranking club and it was pleasing to see the luck finally change for Grenville co-trainers Greg and Debra (Wicks) Moss when 8Y0 Andover Hall-Jacinta Franco gelding Jakarta after running four successive placings landed the 2200 metre Ferndale Foods Australia Trotters Mobile over 2200 metres at the juicy odds of $12.00 or $14.00 on the parimutuel.
With regular reinsperson Jodi Quinlan in the sulky, Jakarta was beaten for speed from gate three to settle on the back of the pacemaker Countess Chiron which began with a wing on every foot from gate five making a return to the track for Anthony Butt.
Held in a tight pocket for most of the trip by Old Villa Boy which had gone forward from outside the front line, Jakarta was able to squeeze free on the final bend to join Countess Chiron on turning and raced clear halfway up the running to gain the day by 2.9 metres from the raging hot favourite Commodus (one/four from inside the second line – four wide last lap – five wide home turn), with polemarker Constant (three pegs) gaining a split one off approaching the winning post third a nose away. The mile rate 2-01. It was Jakarta’s 11th victory with 7 placings from 81 outings.
n Ballarat duo Sam Barker (trainer – Mitchell Park) and Connor Clarke combined to snare the 1710 metre ballarattrottingclub.com.au Pace with 4Y0 Rock N Roll Heaven-Radical Storm mare Clara Rocks at the big odds of $23.00. Beginning swiftly from outside the front line to lead, Clara Rocks was rated a treat by Connor, defying all challengers to register a 2.5 metre victory in a slick 1-54.6 from Royal Saxon (gate three – one/one) and Montana Pride from mid-field after starting from gate three on the second line who was a neck away third.
n Parwan owner/trainer Scott Garbutt’s 7Y0 mare Mont Sally a daughter of Peak and Soliloquize bred by the late Graham Rayner was victorious in the Del-Re National Foods Trotters Mobile over 1710 metres with James Herbertson in the sulky.
Beginning best to lead from gate three, Mont Sally travelled sweetly throughout, greeting the judge by 4 metres in advance of Amour Maternal (one/three off a three wide trail last lap on the back of Romantic Nina which galloped prior to the home turn). Oopzee Daizee (gate six – outside the winner – one/one at bell) after Beach Heaven vacated the one/one to race parked for the last lap was third 4 metres back. The mile rate 1-59.5. - The 7+ Concession Drivers Pace over 1710 metres saw Kilmore based Nick Beale successful aboard Burrumbeet trainer David Barbetti’s 6Y0 Tell All Turbo Elly mare Littleblabbrermouth who has been racing well of late. Settling five back in the moving line after being taken back from outside the front line as Zu Hoffen led, Littleblabbermouth ran home brilliantly out wide to blouse the Arthur Wood (Melton) trained stablemates Averio (one/one – gate two) and polemarker Pistol Queen (three pegs) in a thrilling finish. The margins a head by 6.2 metres in a mile rate of 1-56.2.
Personal Pars
- After plenty on anticipation, Alex (Alby) Ashwood and partner Tayla French proudly became parents on Friday May 2 when Levi James Ashwood came into the world at 4.57pm. Both baby and Mum are doing well.