By Len Baker
ACE Myrniong reinsman Greg Sugars made the 11-event harness card his own at Kilmore on Thursday after driving four winners on the program, three of which were trained by his wife Jess Tubbs.
Art Major-Siliqua filly Aureus started the ball rolling in the 1690-metre MC Security 2Y0 Pace over 1690 metres.
Going forward at the start from outside the front line, Aureus had little trouble taking the lead away from NSW visitor Roll With Juliette, gate five, before handing over to stablemate The Huntress outside her after travelling a short distance.
In a tightly bunched field on turning, Aureus, bred and raced by Highfield Farm, dashed home along the sprint lane to defeat The Huntress by 2.7 metres in a mile rate of 1:59, with Roll With Juliette, three pegs, third, 3.4 metres away.
Victory number two saw Pet Rock-Bellasario filly Rio Rock lead throughout from the pole in the TAB 3Y0 Pace over 2180 metres. Always in control, Rio Rock had 5.6 metres to spare on the wire, accounting for Younggiftedandblack, one/one, in a rate of 2:04.4. Pesci, after racing exposed, was third 7.2 metres away.
Combining with Longlea trainer Clinton McSwain aboard four-year-old Hes Watching-Miss Saxony mare Wendys Watching in the Momentum Gaming Pace over 2180 metres, Sugars brought up his third success.
Settling three back in the moving line from gate two on the second line as Illawong Phoenix led from gate three, Wendys Watching went forward mid-race to join the leader before taking a trail on Machavelli at the bell.
Easing three wide approaching the final bend, Wendys Watching raced away on turning to prevail by 12.2 metres over Favouritehighlight, which followed her home a head clear of Illawong Phoenx. The mile rate was 2:01.5.
Easy win
Win number four went the way of smart three-year-old Always B Miki-Arms Of An Angel filly Nonparriel, who was an easy victor of the Carlton & United Breweries Pace over 2180 metres.
Snookered three pegs from a solo second line draw for most of the race as the favourite Repelling, gate three, crossed local hope Keayang Balboa from the pole, Nonparriel was extricated into the clear prior to the home turn, racing to the front on straightening to record a 2.2-metre margin over Ringos A Star, with Repelling third, 1.8 metres back. The mile rate was 2:02.7.
The Terry Wait Memorial Pace over 2180 metres, honouring the local Lancefield identity who passed away suddenly, was taken out by locally trained nine-year-old American Ideal-Lombo Glad Rags gelding Ideal Investment for Ben Yole and stable reinsman Corey Bell.
Given a sweet trip one/one from gate four, Ideal Investment moved three wide on the home turn and swept to the front shortly after to register a 3.5-metre margin over Pete Mitchell, gate four, along the sprint lane off the back of the leader Pinnacle Hope, gate three, which held down third a neck away. The mile rate was 2:03.7.
Junortoun trainer Justin Brewin combined with local reinsman Josh Duggan to snare the 1690-metre Hanson Cleaning Services Vicbred Pace with Bettors Delight-Sexy Lady four-year-old gelding The Kew Legend, leading all of the way from the pole to just last by a half head from Final Bow, which trailed. Regality, one/one-three wide home turn, was third 8.1 metres away after chasing hard in the straight. The mile rate was 1:58.7.
Entertaining race
The 2180-metre Beraldo Coffee Pace was an entertaining race with victory going to the short-priced favourite Our Money Rocks, but not before giving his backers a gigantic scare.
Trained by Adam Kelly at Toolern Vale and driven by James Herbertson, Our Money Rocks, gate two, was held in a firm pocket three pegs for most of the race after American Legacy crossed Arden Roanoke at the bell.
Looking set for victory on turning, American Legacy trod on a shoe and galloped badly, checking The Rocknroll King outside him, which allowed both Arden Roanoke and Our Money Rocks to gain a clear passage.
Finishing best, Our Money Rocks defeated Arden Roanoke by 1.3 metres in a mile rate of 2:02.2. American Legacy got going again for third, 5.5 metres back.
Heathcote father and daughter Terry and Tayla French provided a blow out winner in seven-year-old Somebeachsomwhere-Golden Slippa gelding Beach Wreck, who led throughout at odds of $61 in the 1690-metre Jet Roofing Pace. Beginning fast from gate five, Beach Wreck bowled along and never looked like being caught, reaching the wire 1.9 metres in advance of Bettor Sport, three pegs, in a rate of 1:58.6.
Polemarker Speedie Eadie, three back the markers, was third, 3.1 metres back.
Flower power
The Buds & Branches Florist Pace over 1690 metres went to favourite Do Not Surrender, $1.95, who after racing exposed, proved too good for his rivals.
Driven by Cody Crossland for Shepparton’s Isabel Walsh, the five-year-old gelded son of Bettors Delight and Top Tempo started from gate six and controlled the race from outside speedy beginner Sweet Creation, gate seven, to score by 4.2 metres from Our Cheeky Devil, one/one, and Harts Last, four pegs, in 1:59.4.
Seven-year-old Majestic Son-Becky’s Baby gelding Whatwillbeewillbee was a shock victor of the 2150-metre C&M Build Group Trotters Handicap, paying odds of $26.
Starting from barrier one on the 10-metre mark, no front markers, Whatwillbeewillbee, trained by Bolinda’s Brent Lilley and driven by Kiwi Bernie Hackett, led throughout to register a 3.7-metre margin over stablemate and hot favourite Baxter, 20m, with Electrojet, 20m, third.
The mile rate was 2:06.2.
Four-year-old Used To Me-Bella Cheval gelding Champagne Charley, part-owned and trained by Rockbank’s Freddy Spiteri, won the Worlds Best Hoof Oil Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres.
Driven by Jack Laugher, Champagne Charley, a $1.60 favourite, raced outside Trixy Nixie before asserting his authority in the straight to record a 2.1-metre margin.
Zesta La Go Go, three pegs, was third, 26.4 metres away. The mile rate was 2:06.3.
Kilmore races again Thursday November 10.
