By Len Baker
Kilmore’s Maryanne Laffan and partner Steven ‘Bluey’ Matson scored a win at Kilmore harness races on Thursday, with their five-year-old Keepcrackingjokes chalking up her third success in 53 outings.
The Heston Blue Chip-Acaptivatingeagle mare landed the O’Brien Electrical Pace, over 2180 metres.
Driven by Matson, Keepcrackingjokes was trapped wide from gate six but was able to angle into the running line midfield as 13-year-old local Wonderforce led from gate two.
Trailing Im Jollygood forward three wide in the last lap, Keepcrackingjokes ran home best to register a 3.7-metres victory over Im Jollygood, with Go George Go coming from the rear for third a head away. The mile rate 2:03.9.
Bolinda trainer Brent Lilley was victorious with five-year-old Muscle Hill-Aldebaran Revenue mare Kyvalley Helen in the Momentum Gaming Maiden Trotters Mobile over 1690 metres.
Driven by Chris Alford, Kyvalley Helen was fast away from gate four to lead all of the way, easily accounting for Aldebaran Tanisha and Ragna Thor who was third. The mile rate was 2:04.5.
Kilmore-based Ben Yole and caretaker trainer Robbie Walters combined with James Herbertson to capture the Carlton and United Breweries Pace over 1690 metres with Coveffe Hustler at odds of $23.
Leading out from gate three before surrendering to stablemate Princess Chilla, Coveffe Hustler used the sprint lane to win by 1.4 metres from My Sweet Sabrina from the tail in a mile rate of 1:59.6. Digyourheelsin was third, 2.4 metres back.
Bolinda’s Kari Males landed the Buds and Branches Florist Trotters Mobile over 1690 metres with speedy eight-year-old Danny Bouchea-Shania Court gelding Whizzbang Dan, much to the delight of part-owner Ronnie Kelly and partners.
With Chris Alford in the sulky, Whizzbang Dan led throughout from gate four, accounting for the raging hot favourite Rakero Blaze by 6.1 metres after racing outside him after galloping in the score up.
Well-known breeder/owner Kevin Clark snared the quinella in the Georgina and Co Pace over 2180 metres when four-year-old gelding Modern Jive defeated Shaq in a rate of 2:02.2.
Bulla part-owner/trainer James Elliot was successful with seven-year-old gelding Illawong Jovial in the 1690 metre Jet Roofing Pace.
Dabyminga looked the winner when coming away from the inside to challenge on the final bend, but Illawong Jovial, with James Herbertson in the sulky, made full use of the sprint lane to come home best. Sweet Creation held third 1.8 metres back. The mile rate was 1:57.7.
Wildwood trainer Sergio Lenardi’s honest seven-year-old mare Trembita loves racing at Kilmore and registered her third win there, with Annalise Scott in the sulky, when greeting the judge in the Beraldo Coffee Pace over 1690 metres.
In what was described as the ‘drive of the night’, Herbertson brought up win number three when Final Bow took out the 2180-metre Worlds Best Hoof Oil Pace.
Final Bow, trained by Sutton Grange’s Ross Graham, proved too strong in the end over leader Raffas Ace in a mile rate of 2:04.3.
Other winners were La Perriere in the Aldebaran Park Vicbred Platinum Trotting Mares Sprint Championship, heat three; Stir Me Up in the 1690-metre Tellurian Wines Pace; Quake Proof in the C and M Build Group Trotters Mobile over 1690 metres; and Paris Jamilla landed the 2180-metre MC Security Trotters Mobile.
Kilmore harness races return on Wednesday.
