By Len Baker
A eight event card of harness racing at Kilmore on Thursday, June 9, featured various victorious trainers from the region.
Kilmore reinsman Robbie Walters caused a major upset when successful aboard visiting Tasmanian trainer Ben Yole’s much-travelled 10-year-old Live Or Die-Gross Misconduct gelding Southern GNP, priced at $51, in the 1690 metre Carlton and United Breweries Pace.
Pushing through from gate two on the second line to settle three back in the moving line as speedy 12-year-old gelding Realy Under Fire crossed another of the Yole runners Border Cross shortly after the start.
Southern GNP followed up Social Writer three wide in the last lap and ever wider on straightening.
Finishing best, Southern GNP, at start number 220, scored by three metres from White Star Village along the sprint lane from four back the markers, with Border Cross also using the sprint lane for third 1.2 metres away. The mile rate 1-59.9.
It was Southern GNP’s first victory since October last year. Yole’s team are currently stabled with Walters.
Wallan’s Ruth Shinn and son Chris landed the Momentum Gaming Pace over 2180 metres with home bred four-year-old Betterthancheddar-Shishi gelding Dabyminga.
Immediately restrained back to the tail from inside the second line, Dabyminga was off and running shortly after to park outside the leader Treacheroustimes.
Gaining cover at the bell after Sweet American had circled the field from the rear before racing clear on the final bend, Dabyminga followed him forward and was too strong in the run to the wire, registering a 1.3 metre margin. Kellys Ideal was third 4.8 metres back. The mile rate 2-03.6.
Strathfieldsaye trainer Julie Douglas has a great record at Kilmore and added another winner to her CV when Gojoe, a six-year-old gelded son of Roll With Joe and Trudee greeted the judge in the MC Security Pace, over 1690 metres.
Enjoying a sweet trip from gate three trailing the poleline leader Good Feelings, Gojoe used the sprint line to prevail by 6.3 metres in 2-00.4 over Heidi Go Seek, which pipped Good Feelings by a nose.
Cardigan trainer Anton Golino’s smart Orlando Vici-Muscles N Blues gelding Cravanche Dor first up since December was successful in the Worlds Best Hoof Oil 3Y0 Trotters Mobile, over 2180 metres.
With Nathan Jack in the sulky, Cravanche Dor was given the run of the race from gate four trailing polemarker Arcee Phoenix before dashing home along the sprint lane to register a half neck margin in 2-03.6. Mercenary ran home late from mid-field for third 9.8 metres away.
The Jet Roofing Pace over 2180 metres saw three-year-old Kiwi import Justalittlesip, trained by Joe Pace from Harkness, near Melton, make it two from two on Australian soil.
A gelded son of Franco Ledger and Justasip driven by James Herbertson, Justalittlesip quickly away from inside the second line commenced a forward move three wide from five back in the final circuit, sustaining the run to record a most impressive 10.7 metre victory in advance of Pas Guarantee, which led in the last lap after going forward from the extreme draw to race exposed. The Whole Package was third 3.5 metres away after following the winner home. The mile rate 1-58.2.
Toolern Vale trainer Adam Kelly was in the winners’ stall after Kiwi-bred four-year-old Bettors Delight-Asuka mare Lilibela was victorious in the $10,000 Beraldo Coffee Pace Final, over 2180 metres.
Fourth in her heat a week earlier, Lalibela, with Brad Chisholm in the sulky, enjoyed a sweet one/one trip from gate five, running home strongly on turning to score from Lopez and Galactic Gal from the tail. The margins 3.1 by a head in 1-58.6.
Congupna trainer/driver Eddie Tappe, well known in Kilmore, chalked up victory numbrer four with his smart four-year-old Majestic Son-Aldebaran Peggy mare Abbie in the 2180-metre C&M Build Trotters Mobile.
Abbie ran home strongly to register a 2.1 metre margin over a late finishing Shield Maiden and Elegant Peak, which trailed the winner home was third a head back. The mile rate 2-04.7.
Kurunjang co-trainers Maree and John Caldow’s lovely four-year-old Bacardi Lindy-Titillate mare Tipsy Turvy John led throughout in the Buds and Branches Florist Trotters Mobile over 1690 metres.
Rated to perfection by John, Tipsy Turvy was never in any danger, greeting the judge 4.5 metres clear of Queen Invasion along the sprint lane from three back the markers in a rate of 2-01.2. Quake Proof showed a return to form by coming from last to finish third 2.3 metres back.
The next Kilmore harness racing meeting is on tonight, Tuesday.
