By Len Baker
Kilmore trainer George Schembri scored a shock win at Kilmore harness races’ big 10-event program on Monday last week.
Schembri who snared the Buds & Branches Florist Pace, over 1690 metres, with five-year-old Artistic Fella-Tiny Treasure mare Jasperine, paying odds of $23-00.
Trained and driven by Schembri, Jasperine was restrained to near last along the markers from outside the front line as polemarker Officially Shady retained the front running from the pole.
Momentarily one-one in the back straight following Cantseeme, which had moved to race exposed from three pegs, Jasperine after angling four wide on the final bend finished her race off in style to record a 1.9 metre victory over Are You With Me, paying $1.45, which extricated off the back of the leader on turning. Officially Shady held third 1.6 metres back. The mile rate 2-00.8.
Ex-Tasmanian trainer/driver Connor Crook snared the Hanson Cleaning Services Pace over 2180 metres with four-year-old Grinfromeartoear-Artistic Balance gelding Lifeinthebalance raced by members of the Chibnall family.
Going forward from gate two on the second line shortly after to start to cross the heavily supported favourite, Playful Miss was well rated, scoring by a half head.
Lifeinthebalance wouldn’t give in for those cheering, and So She Said (three pegs) was third, 19.5 metres away. The mile rate 1-59.2.
Ten-year-old Stonebridge Regal-Lotasilkari gelding Lotakevi has recorded 11 wins from 160 outings, the last four at Kilmore including the Grays Bendigo Pace over 1690 metres.
Driven by Romsey based Ross Payne, Lotasilkari trained by John McGillivray at Croydon, settled on the back of the leader from gave five with pokemarker Moreartsthanclass kicking up to hold him out at the start.
Shuffled back to three pegs after Pinnacle Hope crossed to take over at the bell, Lotasilkari used the sprint lane as he has done in the past to prevail by a half neck from Ringer Russ along the sprint lane from the rear. Pinnacle Hope was third 2.9 metres away. The mile rate 1-58.8.
Dunnstown trainer/driver David Murphy’s four-year-old Angus Hall-Lilian Grey gelding Rioterra was a strong victor of the 2180-metre Beraldo Coffee Maiden Trotters Mobile returning a mile rate of 2-03.8.
Galloping shortly after the start from inside the second line, Rioterra gave away a tidy start to his rivals as Imasocialbutterfly led from gate four with the favourite Benny The Gun after going back at the start moving forward when the speed was slow to cruise to the front.
Running along, Benny The Gun still had a handy lead prior to the home turn before shortening stride in the straight and Rioterra going three wide in the last lap.
Sustaining the run, Rioterra raced clear to score by 5.5 metres from Get Up Early, which ran home nicely from four pegs at the bell, with Benny The Gun weakening to finish third 3.8 metres away.
Leading trainer Emma Stewart snared a treble with three short priced favourites saluting – Tempting Tigress, $1.09, in the New Life Laser Therapy 2Y0 Pace, So Art I, $1.50, in the TAB Pace and Beach Villa, $1.09, in the Carlton and United Breweries Pace.
Tempting Tigress virtually led throughout from the pole to defeat Tin Tin Jo owned in the same interests, which trailed in 1-55.9.
So Art I led from the bell to account for Jo Rocks in 1-58.7 and Beach Villa led most of the way to defeat El Boston in a slashing 1-53.2. All three were driven by Mark Pitt.
Another Ballarat winner was Highview Tommy-Five Star Bell filly Flowertop Mountain in the MC Security 3Y0 Pace, over 2180 metres.
Raced and trained by Wayne Watson who assists at the Stewart stable, Flowertop Mountain driven by Allan McDonough extricated six wide from well back on turning to register a 5.5 metre margin in advance of Rocknfury in 1-59.9. Sapphire Gambler ran home nicely from the tail for third a head away.
Frenchbred Traders-Saorse, a four-year-old entire trained at Cardigan by Anton Golino with Nathan Jack in the sulky, eased from three pegs after starting from gate two to lead for most of the trip in the Jet Roofing Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres.
Traders-Saorse proved too strong for the favourite Aldebaran Dino, which raced outside him, with Downunder Barkers third from the tail. The margins 2.3 X 2.7 metres in a mile rate of 1-59.7.
Allendale owner/trainer Adam Stephens always turns his horses out looking a treat and honest nine-year-old I Am The Way-Alberts Belle gelding Iamawingate was successful in the 1690 metre Worlds Best Hoof Oil Pace.
Driven by Michael Bellman, Iamawingate after starting from the extreme draw, ran home strongly to record a 2.6 metre margin from Havana along the sprint lane in 1-59.7.
Dennstown, which trailed the pacemaker Good Feelings, also used the sprint lane for third a head back. It was Iamawingate’s 10th victory at start number 87.
The next Kilmore harness races are on Thursday night.
