By Len Baker
FOLLOWING the tragic circumstances of a fire at their stables, nobody would begrudge the Mifsud family winning the C and M Build Group Pace over 1690 metres at last Thursday’s Kilmore night fixture.
Four-year-old Somebeachsomewhere-Mollys Lucky Star rig Shallow Beach scored in a mile rate of 1:58.2.
Trained by Julie and driven by husband Aussie, Shallow Beach was sent forward three wide from gate three to cross polemarker and stablemate Mister Finnigan and after being rated well, registered a 3.7-metre margin over Neander Guy, with Favouritehighlight third 2.5 metres away after racing in the open.
It was also a great night for Bolinda with Alexandra Hurley’s promising five-year-old Amore Stride-Nitengale Stride mare Tiara Stride, raced by her and sister Fran, taking the 2180-metre Jet Roofing Trotters Mobile.
Coming off a close third a week earlier behind Silent Revere, Tiara Stride was driven a treat by Greg Sugars and led throughout from gate two opening up a big margin on her rivals.
Well clear on turning, Tiara Stride never looked like losing, greeting the judge by 15.9 metres untouched from Reigning Lillies, which ran home well. Kyvalley Paint after racing exposed held down third a half neck back. The mile rate 2:02.5.
Another Bolinda winner was seven-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven-Tactical Attraction gelding Heaven Attracts, for Vince Vallelonga, in the Hygain Super Amino 66 Pace over 2180 metres.
With competent concessional reinsman Jordan Leedham in the sulky, Heaven Attracts ran home best off a one/one trail to defeat Keayang Kamikaze from the extreme draw, which led on the final bend.
Two Sock Creek received a late split on turning to finish third a nose away. The winning margin being a head in a mile rate of 2:00.2.
Romsey trainer-driver Chris Svanosio’s Aldebaran Eagle-Aldebaran Maori filly Aldebaran Demi was ultra impressive in taking the Worlds Best Hoof Oil 3Y0 Maiden Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres.
Given a quiet time three pegs from gate five as raging hot favourite Toro Stride led from the pole, Aldebaran Demi sprouted wings along the sprint lane to blouse the favourite by a half head in a rate of 2:04.3. Acool Investment after following the leader was third three metres away.
Tasmanian Ben Yole has seven-year-old Mach Three-Love The Red gelding Machavelli racing in outstanding form and notched up another victory by taking the 1690-metre $10,000 Momentum Gaming Pace Final in 1:57.6.
Driven to perfection as expected by James Herbertson, Machavelli, stabled at Robbie Walters’ Kilmore stables, led throughout from gate four to easily account for Hidden Figure, with stablemate of the winner Coveffe Hustle third. The margins 3.9 by 5.8 metres.
Croydon South part-owner/trainer John McGillivray’s 10-year-old Stoneridge Regal-Lotasilkari gelding Lotakevi repeated his victory on the track a week earlier in identical fashion.
With Ian McMahon again in the sulky Lotakevi was successful in the Buds & Branches Florist Pace over 1690 metres, using the sprint lane to blouse the leader by a nose in a tricky finish. Denstown was third 2.9 metres back. The mile rate 1:58.7.
Strathfieldsaye trainer Julie Douglas and stable reinsman Jack Laugher were back from a stint on the sidelines to snare the New Life Laser Therapy Pace over 1690 metres with Kiwi bred four-year-old Sportswriter-Make A Splash gelding Write About Angus in 2:01.8.
Douglas and Laugher made it a double after Art Major-Fleets Pocket six-year-oldd gelding Mighty Flying Art led throughout from gate four in the MC Security Claiming Pace over 2180 metres, winning as he pleased by 2.4 metres over Jawbreaker in a rate of 1:58.4.
Other winnners were Von Art, for leading trainer Emma Stewart in the 1690-metre Carlton and United Breweries Pace, and five year-old gelding Aristotle, raced by long-time harness devotee Peter Batten, in the Beraldo Coffee Maiden Trotters Mobile over 1690 metres.
Kilmore harness races are on again this Saturday night, honouring the Knight family.
