By Len Baker
One of the most popular victories of the night at Kilmore harness races on Friday was Kilmore trainer Rita Burnett with Im The Mightygramps.
The meeting included most classes with well-supported runners winning most races including many from the Macedon Ranges.
A disappointing factor on the night, particularly for off-course punters, that Sky showed no betting graphics for most of the night, plus false dividends on several occasions.
Im The Mightygramps saluted the judge in 2-00.3 the OKR 98.3FM Pace over 1690 metres.
Im The Mightygramps, the speedy five-year-old gelded son of Western Terror and Cracker Three, enjoyed a cosy passage from gate five one-one trailing the heavily supported Prima Donna, which raced outside the pacemaker American Tiger from gate four.
Easing three wide on the final bend, Im The Mightygramps got there in the last stride to register a half head margin over a game Prima Donna, with American Tiger, 2.8 metres away third.
Local reinsman Ross Payne was successful in the opening race – the Momentum Gaming Pace over 2180 metres – aboard Croydon part-owner/trainer John McGillivray’s honest 10-year-old Stonebridge Regal-Lotasilkare gelding Lotakevi in a mile rate of 2-02.4.
Having start number 131, Lotakevi led out from the pole before allowing Ears Ponder, trained by Monegeeta’s Wally Toczynski, outside him to assume control with around a mile to travel.
Using the sprint lane, Lotakevi scored by two metres, with Rolling Along, three back the markers – three wide home turn, third a half head away.
Riddell trainer/driver Chris Lang led throughout aboard six-year-old Muscle Hill-Cinders gelding Dontouch The Duco to land the MC Security Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres.
Travelling well at the head of affairs from gate two, Dontouch The Duco had 1.3 metres to spare at the finish over Patched, four back the markers – one/two last lap, and Flash Kyvallet, three back the markers. The mile rate 2-05.7.
Monegeetta owners Marty and Laurel Miles were winners when Sunshine Beach-Rockin In Eden filly Cocora, trained by Marty and driven by son David, easily captured the 1690-metre Jet Roofing 3Y0 Pace in a rate of 1-58.7.
Once balanced Cocora let rip to effortlessly take over with a circuit to travel before coasting to the wire 9.1 metres in advance of Thug Rose, with Lollipop third a half head away along the sprint lane.
Melton part-owner/trainer Danny Mullan combined with Greg Sugars to land the Carlton and United Breweries Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres with Hes Themightyspin, a seven-year-old gelded son of Majestic Son and Sunelle.
Sugars brought up a double after leading throughout from gate two with wife Jess’ four-year-old For A Reason-Regaltive gelding Cherokee Joe, in the 1690-metre Beraldo Coffee Pace.
Bendigo duo Alex Ashwood and Tayla French snared the C and M Build Group Pace over 2180 metres with Beach Wreck, a seven-year-old Somebeachsomewhere-Golden Slippa gelding.
Trainer/driver Sam Barker, of Mitchell Park near Ballarat, has enjoyed a profitable week and added another winner to the tally when five-year-old Western Terror-I Wantano gelding Touch Of Terror ran his rivals ragged in the 2180-metre Hanson Cleaning Services Pace.
Adopting ‘catch me if you can’ tactics, Touch Of Terror never looked in any danger, greeting the judge 22.5 metres clear of Rocks Arnt Pets along the sprint lane, in a rate of 2-00.5. Rank outsider Favouritehighlight was third 1.2 metres back.
The next Kilmore harness races are on Tuesday, March 11.
