By Len Baker
Kilmore Racing hosted a most entertaining night of harness racing on Thursday, with plenty of local winners on the program including a double to Josh Duggan along with wins to Chris Svanosio, Alexandra Hurley and Rod Petroff.
Duggan’s first winner was Nanneella owner/trainer Col Godden’s four-year-old Lincoln Royal-Jilliby Deejay mare Digyourheelsin, which scored in the Jet Roofing Pace over 2180 metres.
Given a sweet passage from gate three trailing the leader Artizz, Digyourheelsin came away from the inside to trail Aristocrat Chester approaching the final bend and quickly joined in on straightening with the pair drawing away.
Finishing best, Digyourheelsin greeted the judge by 6.9 metres in a rate of 2-00.2 over Aristocrat Chester, which went forward a long way out, with Will And Andy third 4.7 metres away.
Victory number two was aboard four-year-old home-bred Great Success-Bras Dhonneur gelding Manguito for Bolinda trainer Alexandra Hurley in the Buds and Branches Florist Maiden Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres.
Raced by Ali in partnership with sisters Fran and El, Manguito began smartly from gate five and had little trouble in striding to the front shortly after. Rated to perfection Manguito after, an eye catching third a week earlier at Maryborough, coasted to the wire 3.1 metres in advance of Krakuer returning a mile rate of 2-06.1. Another local Lunar was third 5.2 metres away after racing exposed.
There was excitement galore following the victory of Captaintreacherous-Aniteattheopera gelding Kaptain Kidd on debut in the 2180-metre MC Security 3Y0 Pace.
Trained at Romsey by Chris Svanosio for a large syndicate including the Maclean Family Group, Peter Svanosio, Clive Henderson, Wendy and Rodney Harrison, Carol Simpson, breeder Robert Rothacker and wife Karen, plus Pearcedale sisters Julie and Jennifer Coventry along with Mark Greenshields, Kaptain Kidd driven by Ross Payne, settled at the rear of the field as the heavily supported Lollipop led.
With Lollipop travelling easily approaching the home turn, the race changed complexion dramatically when she galloped wildly veering outwards checking several runners.
This allowed Kaptain Kidd to avoid the trouble and he charged down the outside to prevail by 3.8 metres over Eye See Amour along the sprint lane from last.
Hello I Tea avoided the interference and was third 1.4 metres away. The mile rate 2-02.4. It was also Ross Payne’s first win for the stable after recently joining the team.
Lancefield trainer/driver Rod Petroff landed the Beraldo Coffee Trotters Handicap over 2150 metres with Theyallendiny, a six-year-old gelded son of Majestic Son and Elusive Charm, raced by the Wells Family Group.
Jumping straight to the front from barrier two as the tapes released, Theyallendiny led throughout and never looked like being caught and although getting tired in the straight, held on to score by two metres from Kyvalley Hacienda and Whatwillbeewillbee. which led up the outside division, finishing 16.3 meres away third. The mile rate 2-03.7.
Parwan trainer Philip Chircop’s four-year-old mare Sweet Louise returned to her best with an ultra impressive 6.7 metre victory in the $10,000 C and M Build Group Pace over 2180 metres.
Heathcote trainer Jim O’Sullivan, an inter-Dominion winner, snared the Carlton and United Breweries Pace over 1690 metres with 12-year-old Courage Under Fire-Realy Dry gelding Realy Under Fire.
Drysdale trainer Ash Warton joined forces with David Murphy to land the J and A Mazzetti Pace over 1690 metres with eight-year-old Big Jim-Whata Impact mare Miss Dangerfield.
Strathfieldsaye trainer/driver Glenn Douglas led throughout aboard polemarker Ozzie Playboy in the TAB Long May We Play Pace over 2180 metres.
The 1690 metre OKR 98.3FM Vicbred Pace saw former Kilmore trainer Rosie Weidenbach successful with four-year-old Pet Rock-Our Miss Vivienne mare Rolling Remona.
Kilmore harness racing is on again on Sunday.
