By ‘Pegs’
SEYMOUR father and son training partnership Lee and Shannon Hope carried the flag for district stables at Kilmore Racing Club’s successful nine-race card at Kilmore on Friday.
The pair saddled up Kia Hohe, at $4.80 odds, for a comfortable win in the bet365 Maiden Plate over 1450 metres.
The five-year-old gelded son of Our Vespa and Tzarina Star was having his first start for the new stable, after having 16 starts to break his maiden.
Giving the in-form hoop Jack Hill the first leg of a riding treble, the gelding defeated Jennifilo, $21, by three quarters of a length with Mikazuki a similar margin away third.
“It was a nice win,” Lee Hope said.
“Let’s hope the confidence he gained turns him around.
“We’ll look for a ‘58’ over a mile for his next start.”
The New Zealand-bred Kia Hohe is raced by former clients of former trainer Barry Goodwin, managed by Mangalore Park Racing.
The gelding had four minor placings prior to his win.
Cup win
The previous day saw Kyneton and Hanging Rock Racing Club host the 2023 bet365 Hanging Rock Cup.
The time-honoured race run over 1800 metres was taken out by the Austy Coffey-trained Bannerton – a $2.35 favourite.
The Glass Harmoniun five-year-old gelding was ridden by the trainer’s son Harry Coffey who rode three winners on the program.
The gelding defeated California Longbow, $8.50, by one-and-a-quarter lengths with Pure Deal, $14, a further three quarters of a length away third.
Bannerton was also victorious in the Manangatang Cup earlier this preparation.
Seymour trainer Gordon Strang did best of the district trainers, saddling up Gone Ahead, $10, for a short-half-head defeat to Sassy Angel, $4, in the Carlton Draught Maiden Plate over 1000 metres.
Only one favourite was successful on the program.
