By Len Baker
Bolinda trainer Brent Lilley and Kilmore’s Austin ‘Aussie’ Mifsud were victorious at the Kilmore harness meeting on Thursday.
The pair combined in the New Life Laser Therapy Trotters Mobile over 2080 metres with four-year-old Majestic Son-Dutchess mare Meghan.
Raced by Aussie’s wife Julie, Meghan, a former New Zealander, was taken back to the rear from outside the front line as Could Dowitharain led from the pole before handing over to the winner’s stablemate Spotlight, driven by Chris Alford, mid-race.
The race changed complexion in the last lap as Gee Cee Calder sprinting sharply from one-one dashed away on the home turn with Spotlight raising another effort and Meghan joining in three wide on straightening.
Finishing best, Meghan scored by 4.6 metres from Spotlight giving Lilley the quinella, with Gee Cee Calder 4.3 metres back in third place. The mile rate 2-03.7.
Strathfieldsaye trainer Julie Douglas’ recent run of success continued when Roll With Joe-Trudee six-year-old gelding Gojoe scoring in the 2180-metre Momentum Gaming Pace.
It was a great night for the Cardigan stable of Emma Stewart when Art Major-Smyrna Duruisseau colt First Responder greeted the judge after racing exposed in the MC Security 2Y0 Maiden Pace over 1690 metres, accounting for Joyful by 11.6 metres and Chirripo which led from the pole, finishing 3.9 metres away third. The mile rate 1-56.5.
Stablemate Heavenly Sign, a Bettors Delight-Heavens Trend filly, did similar in the 2180-metre Beraldo Coffee Pace.
Driven by Jodi Quinlan, Heavenly Sign proved too strong at the finish to score by 3.8 metres in a mile rate of 1-58.5, from Our Kinky Boots and Sweet Creation third, a nose away.
Stable foreman Allan McDonough also enjoyed a terrific night.
After guiding First Responder to victory earlier, he was victorious aboard his own charge four-year-old Art Major-Jasper Jo mare Mytime in the 2180-metre Jet Roofing Maiden Pace.
Mytime ran home strongly from midfield to register a 14.4 metre margin in advance of leader Son Of Zodiac, with Stylish In Black third 16.1 metres away.
Blitzern, a talented four-year-old Western Terror-Blitzsuzy entire, snared the Hanson Cleaning Services Pace over 1690 metres.
Blitzern came away from the inside at the bell to go forward with Interest Free ahead of him doing the same for Ellen Tormey only to be left exposed, giving Blitzern the perfect trail home.
When Interest Free raced away on turning, Blitzern was in hot pursuit and finished best to prevail by a head only in 1-55.8. Pocket The Deal was third 6 metres away.
Bendigo-based Michael Laugher combined with Ellen Tormey to land the 1690-metre Momentum Gaming Pace with six-year-old Mach Three-Jerulas Shadow mare Hidden Figure paying Supertab odds of $61.
Avenel’s Wayne Potter combined with Nathan Jack aboard four-year-old Art Major-Tombstone Eden mare Fly Bye Eden to record a big victory in the OKR 98.3FM Pace over 2180 metres.
After being slowly away from gate five, Fly Bye Eden had worked into a one-one spot racing for the bell as Good Feelings led from gate four.
When A Perfect Dance raced to the front on turning, Fly Bye Eden was poised to pounce and that’s what he did, racing away to a convincing 14.4-metre victory in advance of A Perfect Dance, and Major Comment was 2.3 metres away third. The mile rate 2-01.3.
Charlton owner/trainer John Torney was successful with four-year-old gelding Supplanter in the TAB Long May We Play Trotters Mobile over 1690 metres, while Cardigan trainer Anton Golino’s Love You-My Valerie gelding Kings Guard put up another big performance to land the 2180-metre Worlds Best Hoof Oil 3Y0 Trotters Mobile.
The next Kilmore meeting is on Thursday.
