By Len Baker
Ben Yole’s Kilmore satellite stable took the honors with a double during the 11-event card, both at a gigantic odds, at Kilmore’s harness meeting on Thursday.
Nine-year-old gelding Nifty Jolt was first to arrive in the Tellurian Wines Pace over 2180 metres paying odds of $41.
Driven by Ross Payne, Nifty Jolt ran home wide in the straight from midfield to blouse stablemate Mach Charm by a head, returning a mile rate of 2-00.3. Pinnacle Hope was third 5.6 metres away.
Seven-year-old mare Nicolescruiser, paying odds of $23, snared the 2180-metre Beraldo Coffee Pace with caretaker trainer Robbie Walters in the sulky.
Enjoying a cosy passage from gate three, trailing the leader Keayang Bieber, Nicolescruiser used the sprint lane to prevail by three metres over the pacemaker in a rate of 2-01.6.
Another stablemate Safe Jewels was third, a half head away after following the pair.
Bolinda’s Brent Lilley was successful with Captain Tom, a gelded son of Captaintreacherous and Heavens Trend, in the Grays Bendigo 3Y0 Maiden Pace over 1690 metres.
Driven by Chris Alford, Captain Tom, after trailing the leader Houston Street from the pole, used the sprint lane to win by 2.8 metres from a death-seating Rainbow Storm, with Houston Street wilting to finish third a metre back. The mile rate 1-58.9.
Romsey’s Chris Svanosio trained and reined four-year-old Captaintreacherous-Deal To The Left mare Norms Lady to land the Buds and Branches Florist Pace over 1690 metres.
Slowly out from the pole to settle three pegs, Norms Lady was eased away from the markers approaching the bell to race exposed for the final circuit.
She proved the better stayer on the night when defeating the pacemaker Arockatthepark by a head in a thrilling finish. Our Cheeky Devil wwas third a half neck back after using the sprint lane. The mile rate 1-56.4.
Bolinda owner/trainer Alison Alford would have been delighted when her gelding Grumpee led throughout to capture the Worlds Best Hoof Oil 3Y0 Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres.
A last start Ballarat winner, Grumpee, driven by Josh Duggan, after beginning brilliantly from outside the front line, was tackled strongly by the hot favourite Our Marvella, which had trailed from gate four before easing away from the inside in the final circuit only to gallop and lose all chance in the straight.
Claudys Secret was second 22.7 metres away, with Cee Are Seven third 30.3 metres back after being badly checked by the galloping Our Marvella. The mile rate 2-07.5.
The feature of the night was the 1690-metre $10,000 Jet Roofing Pace Final that saw Tatura trainer Craig Turnbull and reinswoman daughter Abbey victorious with beautifully-bred Always B Miki-Sabrina Bromac four-year-old mare My Sweet Sabrina in a rate of 1-54.
It was great to see Avenel’s David Aiken in the winners’ stall after lightly-raced six-year-old gelding Twixten scored in the 1690-metre Momentum Gaming Trotters Mobile.
Trained and reined by Aiken, Twixten settled three pegs from gate two before moving to race uncovered outside the leader Jessies Son in the last lap.
Doing only what he had to do, Twixton scored virtually untouched from Koogan along the sptint lane from five pegs, with Jessies Son holding down third. The margins 2.2 by 4.1 metres in a mile rate of 2-02.9.
Other winners on the night were Toolern Vale trainer Shane Hoban and long time buddy Graeme Wilson who landed the 2150-metre O’Brien Electrical Trotters Handicap with Easy Pickings; Strathfieldsaye trainer Julie Douglas’ Roll With Ron, with Jack Laugher in the sulky, won the MC Security Pace over 2180 metres; Kiwi-bred four-year-old Art On Fire was successful in the Carlton and United Breweries Pace over 1690 metres for popular Nanneella part-owner/trainer Col Godden and stable reinsman Josh Duggan; and Elmore trainer Keith Cotchin combined with Ryan Duffy aboard four-year-old Sassiness to land the C&M Build Group Pace over 1690 metres.
The next Kilmore harness races are on Sunday.
