By Len Baker
A big 10-event card featured at a long, spread-out Kilmore harness racing program that was interrupted by storms on March 3.
Kilmore’s Julie Mifsud and husband Aussie along with Aussie’s sister Rita Burnett landed the quinella in the Buds and Branches Florist Pace over 1690 metres, when six-year-old Betterthancheddar-Amarooka Jazz mare Tryna Portray snared the major prize.
Trained by Julie and driven by Aussie, Tryna Portray was given a lovely passage from the pole, trailing the leader and favourite Pursuitofhappiness, who was relentlessly attacked by Burnett’s trained and driven Alistair Lavros – who eventually crossed to take over at the bell.
Angling three wide running into the final bend as Pursuitofhapiness had moved off the inside to avoid a pocket, Tryna Portray raced by Julie and son William, finished best after the easy run to prevail by 1.1 metres from Alistair Lavros who was gigantic.
Pursuitofhappiness was almost as good in finishing third 3.4 metres back. The mile rate 1-58.4.
Sutton Grange owner/trainer/driver Ross Graham received all of the spoils in the 2180-metre MC Security Maiden Pace when four-year-old Heston Blue Chip-Gallery Girl gelding Master Works greeted the judge in a mile rate of 2-01.4.
Ardmona’s Donna Castles led throughout aboard six-year-old Modern Art-Chloes Daughter mare Cheeki Philtra to land the 1690-metre Jet Roofing Pace.
Given an easy time after burning across from outside the front line, Cheeki Philtra scored by 10.6 metres from Coyyong Cool, which trailed in 1-59. Elenna was third 8.6 metres back.
Heathcote-based Glenn Bull’s five-year-old Betterthancheddar-Mazzas Delight mare Betterthanflyhigh was a big victor of the J and A Mazzetti Maiden Pace over 2180 metres.
Raced by Glenn and family, Betterthanflyhigh, after being taken back to the rear from outside the front line, made a long sustained run in the last lap to register a strong 1.7 metre margin to defeating the pacemaker Caught Out and Kanga Crest in a mile rate 2-02.6.
Veteran Meltonian Danny Mullen was successful with Hes Themightyspin, a seven-year-old gelded son of Majestic Son and Sunelle, in the Hanson Cleaning Services Trotters Handicap over 2150 metres, returning a mile rate of 2-07.
Driven by John Caldow, Hes Themightyspin began fast from barrier six as the tapes released, to lead and, after being rated to perfection, had four metres to spare on the wire from the fast finishing Sovereign Tiger from near last after a bad beginning. Local hope One Muscle Hill, 10 metre, three back the markers at the bell, was third a head away.
Avenel duo David and Josh Aiken’s smart four-year-old Mach Three-Three Eagles entire My Golden Eagle, raced by long time Queensland-based stable client Diane Reilly, was successful in the Carlton and United Breweries Pace over 2180 metres.
Beginning brilliantly from outside the front line to lead before allowing Heston Cash, which trailed to move around him shortly after the start.
Using the sprint lane, My Golden Eagle scored by a head from Nick Beale’s Monegeetta-trained Argh Me Hearty one/one – three wide home turn in a rate of 2-01.6. Heston Cash held down third a neck back.
Charlton trainer John Torney, and caretaker daughter Ellen at Junortoun, snared a double at the meeting after seven-year-old ex-Kiwi Sir Lincoln-Supreme Holmes gelding Glens Of Tekoa was victorious in the Beraldo Coffee Pace over 1690 metres.
Another of their seven-year-old geldings, Quick Witted, won the OKR 98.3FM Trotters Mobile over the same trip.
The 2180-metre C and M Build Group Pace saw Melton trainer Joe Pace and son Adrian combine to lead throughout from the pole with Bettors Delight-Distant Memory four-year-old gelding Something Bettor, accounting for Jemstone Glory, which trailed after using the sprint lane, with local hope Blazin Cracker, in gate five, third for Steve Cleave. The margins 2.3 metres by a neck in 1-59.5.
Lara trainer Nathan Purdon used the services of co-countryman Josh Dickie aboard first starter Be My Star, a beautifully bred daughter of Captaintreacherous and Smyrna Duruisseau, to lead throughout in the Worlds Best Hoof Oil 3Y0 Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres.
The next Kilmore meeting is on March 31.
