By Len Baker
THURSDAY saw another Kilmore night fixture with mixed results for local participants during the evening.
Riddell trainer Chris Lang snared the quinella in the 2150-metre Beraldo Coffee Trotters Handicap with Queen Invasion defeating Monarch Stride in a mile rate of 2-04.3.
Given as cosy trip one-one from 10 metres by Daryl Douglas, Queen Invasion was shuffled back a spot at the bell after Monarch Stride, raced around the field to race exposed for the final circuit.
Easing three wide approaching the home turn, Queen Invasion was too strong for a brave Monarch Stride to gain the day by 7.7 metres. Trixy Nixie was third 2.5 metres back third after trailing the leader.
Lang was to also drive a winner when taking the Momentum Gaming 3Y0 Vicbred Maiden Pace over 1690 metres aboard first starter Ima Popstar, an Art Major-Miss Feelgood gelding trained by partner Sonia Mahar.
Given every opportunity one-one from gate five, Ima Popstar after easing three wide on the final bend, finished best to prevail by 1.2 metres over the leader and favourite Andrew from the pole.
Ima Charma flashed late from the rear for third 1.4 metres away. The mile rate 1-58.4.
Kilmore trainer Maryanne Laffan snared the Carlton and United Breweries Pace over 1690 metres with four-year-old Heston Blue Chip-Acaptivating Eagle mare Keepcrackingjokes.
With Laffan’s partner Steven Matson in the sulky, Keepcrackingjokes was restrained from gate three to trail the well supported poleline leader Terrordan enjoying the run of the race.
Angling away from the inside on the home turn, Keepcrackingjokes put the race beyond doubt in a couple of strides as she raced away to record a 5.1 metre margin in 1-59.2 over the pacemaker and Border Cross, who was 10.6 metres back third.
Bolinda reinsman Chris Alford led all of the way from the pole aboard the Nathan Purdon-trained Betting Line-Moremi Miss gelding Captain Barnato in the 1690-metre Jet Roofing 3Y0 Vicbred Maiden Pace.
Captain Barnato scored easily by 12 metres from first starter Bettororworse, which trailed, with Lady In Line running home late from the rear for third 8.9 metres back. The mile rate 1-57.3.
Avenel part-owner/trainer Colin Duncan’s four-year-old A Rocknroll Dance-Chenille mare Lopez (Chris Alford) led throughout from outside the front line to easily take the Buds and Branches Florist Pace over 2180 metres, defeating Regality and Miss Hermes in 1-59.8.
South Croydon part-owner/trainer John McGillivray combined with freelance reinsman Ian McMahon to land the 1690-metre Hanson Cleaning Services Pace with 10-year-old Stonebridge Regal-Lotasilkari gelding Lotakevi, who has found Kilmore to be a happy hunting ground.
Cardigan trainer Anton Golino combined with Nathan Jack to capture the TAB Long May We Play 3Y0 Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres with very smart Orlando Viki-Muscles N Blues gelding Cravache Dor who made it two from two this time in.
Toolern Vale part-owner/trainer Joe Vassallo’s Pegasus Spur-Sunny Folly four-year-old mare Silent Reverie showed sparkling speed from outside the front line to lead throughout in the 2180-metre MC Security Trotters Mobile.
Driven by James Herbertson, Silent Reverie after being rated well just lasted from Evas Image. Bolinda hope Tiara Stride ran another honest race for third after trailing the winner from the pole. The margins a half head by two metres in a rate of 2-04.4.
Parwan trainer Jodi Quinlan combined with Taylor Ford to land the New Life Laser Therapy Pace over 2180-metres with Illawong Awesome, a four-year-old Mach Three-Miss Astronomical mare.
Cardigan trainer Emma Stewart’s Somebeachsomewhere-Trebla Trebla colt Khafaji (Nathan Jack) had nothing more than a ‘stroll in the park’ when leading throughout in the G & M Build Pace over 1690 metres, greeting the judge 9.7 metres in advance of Two Sock Creek and Captain Maastricht in a slick 1-54.4.
Harston part-owner/breeder/trainer Dennis Paton snared the Worlds Best Hoof Oil 2Y0 Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres with Larr Dees Son, a Bacardi Lindy-Sheza Amazon gelding.
With veteran Bendigonian Brian Gath in the sulky, Larr Dees Son led all of the way from gate three to account for Wildcat, which trailed by 9.2 metres. Lizzies Son a stablemate of the winner was third 4.8 metres back after racing exposed. The mile rate 2-05.8.
Kilmore harness racing returns this Thursday.
