By Len Baker
KILMORE trainer Rita Burnett combined with son in law Josh Duggan to capture the Grays Bendigo Pace over 1690 metres with 6Y0 Grinfromeartoear-Mademoiselle Gigi gelding Gigis Grinner at last Wednesday’s nine event harness fixture.
Starting solo on the second line, Gigis Grinner bred and raced by long time stable clients Tom and Jean O’Donnell possied beautifully one/one as Betterthanflyinghigh led from gate three for Glenn Bull before being eased to take a trail on Boak which had left a one/one spot to take over at the bell.
Rallying under vigorous driving by Duggan on turning, Gigis Grinner refused to give in and outstayed Righteously which headed towards the outside fence in the straight to score by 6.3 metres in a mile rate of 1-59.6. Betterthanflyhigh was third 4.2 metres away.
The O’Brien Electrical Pace over 1690 metres saw sister Rosemarie Weidenbach who now trains at Wahring victorious with 8Y0 Christian Cullen-PK Bunny gelding Goodlookin Rooster.
Kilmore based Tasmanian Ben Yole combined with James Herbertson to land the Carlton & United Breweries Pace over 2180 metres with Mach Charm, a 8Y0 daughter of Mach Three and Glenferrie Serenade.
Settling five pegs from gate two in a strung out field as stablemate Metro Man led, Mach Charm after extricating away from the inside in the last lap to trail Kobys Delight which had done the same off the back of the leader.
When Kobys Delight dashed away, Mach Charm was in hot pursuit and gathered him in to gain the day by a half neck on the wire from the flying home Follow The Eclipse (mid-field) at bell, with Kobys Delight third 1.5 metres away. The mile rate 2-02.9.
Yole was to bring up a double after 8Y0 American Ideal-Classic Vicolo gelding Classie American scored in the MC Security Pace over 2180 metres with Bendigo based Jack Laugher in the sulky.
Settling last from the extreme draw as old timer Southern GNP led from gate two, Classie American circled the field to park in the open at the bell before cruising to the wire 5.1 metres clear of Master Works (one/one) in a mile rate of 2-02.7.
Occiano after a mid-race burst to lead at the bell opening up a big gap on his rivals, held down third 2.6 metres back.
Sutton Grange trainer/driver Ross Graham’s 5Y0 Auckland Reactor-Eastern Art gelding Huey Trevor second up since February 2021 landed the TAB Maiden Pace over 1690 metres.
Despite racing uncovered throughout from gate four, Huey Trevor joined the first start pacemaker Imangry on the home turn and did best to score by 4.7 metres, with Cantseeme third 6.5 metres away after trailing the front runner. The mile rate 1-58.8.
Carlsruhe trainer/driver Jack Sullivan’s 4Y0 Majestic Son-Nicky Newky gelding Major Max was an impressive victor of the 2180 metre Momentum Gaming Trotters Mobile in a rate of 2-03.3.
Racing outside Billy Milner’s Astro (gate two) which led for the majority of the trip, Major Max careered away in the back straight on the final occasion to turn by a huge margin.
Although getting a little tired halfway up the running and he was entitled to do so, Major Max greeted the judge by 7.1 metres in advance of Roll With Rosco (one/two) and Aldebaran Gwen who was 2.8 metres away third after trailing the weakening leader.
The Jet Roofing Pace over 2180 metres went the way of Moorilim (GV) trainer Greg Fleming’s smart Western Terror-Sweet Barney gelding Red Hot Assassin.
Driven by David Moran who has recently joined the stable, Red Hot Assassin starting from the extreme draw settled at the rear as Hameldaeme led from gate five.
When Lifeinthebalance ahead of him went forward to take over at the bell, Red Hot Assassin had moved closer and despite racing three wide solo in the final circuit, asserted his authority on turning to record a strong 2.3 metre victory over Lifeinthebalance, with Leave Your Hat On third 3.1 metres back after following the winner home.
David Moran himself provided a winner when classy Somebeachsomewhere-Distant Memory filly Beach Memories driven by Chris Alford easily took the 1690 metre New Life Laser Therapy Pace in a slick 1-55.4.
Starting from the extreme draw, Beach Memories bided her time at the rear until the bell when she went forward in a hurry to cross the pacemaker El Boston and lead for the final circuit, accounting for El Boston virtually untouched by 7.8 metres.
Power Up after racing exposed throughout was third 8.6 metres back.
A very nice ex-Kiwi by the name of Caster Semenya was victorious in the Hanson Cleaning Services 3Y0 Pace over 2180 metres when making his Australian debut.
Bottled up racing for the bell by Just Miki outside the pacemaker, Caster Semenya used the sprint lane on turning to record a 2.3 metre margin in advance of Rainbowsend (one/one last lap), with Tooby Gold coming from the tail for third.
** Kilmore races again this Thursday night.
