By Len Baker
Bolinda part-owner and trainer Brent Lilley produced an ex-Kiwi filly by the name of Luella to register a first-up success in Australia by taking the Jet Roofing Pace at Kilmore trots on Thursday.
Having her first outing since June 19, Luella, a daughter of Sweet Lou and Stella Franco, was driven by neighbour Chris Alford and led easily from the pole, defying all challengers to score by 1.3 metres from Coveffe Hustler and Regality third 2.5 metres away. The mile rate 2-01.5.
Kilmore-based Ben Yole, a former Victorian who now lives in Tasmania, added another winner to his impressive CV in Victoria when Montana Flash, a four-year-old gelded son of Art Major-Classic Malibu was victorious in the Momentum Gaming Pace over 2180 metres.
Driven by Cody Crossland, Montana Flash came from last at the bell, three wide in the straight, to blow his rivals away and score by 7.2 metres from the pacemaker Bronski Moment and Shallow Beach, which trailed the leader easing outside him on the final bend to finish a head in arrears. The mile rate 2-03.4.
Another Bolinda winner on the night was five-year-old Art Major-Mes Cullen entire Major Mal for Vince Vallelonga in the 2180-metre Beraldo Coffee Pace.
The race was to change complexion approaching the home turn when the leader hung out badly allowing Steve Cleave’s Blazin Cracker trailing to receive a fluke inside passage to lead on turning.
But it was those out wide that swamped their rivals with both Major Mal, five wide, and Arden Roanoke inside him drawing clear.
In a punishing finish, Major Mal scored by a head in 2-00.1, with Heaven Attracts third, 9.5 metres back.
It doesn’t happen all that often, but Monegeetta based Nick Beale, attached to the David Miles stable, snared a winner at his first race drive when Priddy Sublime scored in the New Life Laser Therapy Pace over 1690 metres.
Beale’s win with the four-year-old Art Major-Our Priddy Diva mare, trained by Miles for the Pridmore family and friends, gave him a thrill of a lifetime.
Scorching away from outside the front line, Priddy Sublime led virtually throughout to reach the wire 2.9 metres clear of Good Feelings, which trailed using the sprint lane, and Gauci third, two metres away. The mile rate 1-59.2.
Cranbourne training duo Craig and Tony Jamieson brought two wins in the space of two days when Mojito Madness snared the Buds and Branches Florist 3Y0 Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres, giving Chris Alford the first of two winners on the night.
Ardmona’s Donna Castles landed the TAB Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres with honest six-year-old mare Dances in a rate of 2-05.6.
Extricated to be three wide on turning, Dances ran on best to gain the day by 1.4 metres over Mystic Chip from last, who’s driver Monique Burnett was deserved of the drive of the night after never leaving the markers.
Lemnos trainer Russell Jack combined with Leigh Sutton aboard Captaintreacherous-Precocious Stride gelding Bravo Stride to capture the 2180-metre Carlton and United 2Y0 Pace.
The Grays Bendigo 3Y0 Pace over 2180 metres gave Russell Jack and Leigh Sutton a double when Heston Blue Chip-Miss Elvira gelding Will He Pike scored in 2-01.3.
Mt Cottrell part-owner and trainer Ian Caruana was successful with most consistent Jemstone Glory in the MC Security Pace over 2180 metres, in a mile rate 2-00.6.
The next Kilmore harness races are on Thursday, September 8.
