By Len Baker
A keenly-contested 10-event card at Kilmore trots on Sunday saw action pacing and trotting during the evening, highlighted by heats of the ‘The Thirties’ pace an trot with runners qualifying for Sunday’s Lancefield pacers and trotters cups.
It was a Kilmore victory in the first of the pacing heats, the Beraldo Coffee over 2180 metres, when Tasmanian trainer Ben Yole and caretaker trainer/driver Robbie Walters combined to score with nine-year-old gelding Nifty Jolt in a mile rate of 1-58.8.
Leading throughout, Nifty Jolt defeated 14-year-old stablemate Baccarat by 1.4 metres. Tara Leeann, which trailed the winner from the pole before moving outside him in the final circuit, was third 6.7 metres back.
It was another Yole victory in Heat Two – The Jet Roofing when American Ideal-Lombo Glad Rags gelding Ideal Investment, at the age of 10, having start 239 was successful.
Driven by James Herbertson, Ideal Investment ran home best to prevail by a half neck from Abbie Lincoln, which led on turning. Go George Go was third after striding to the front approaching the final bend was third 1.5 metres away. The mile rate 1-59.9.
Heat Three, The MC Security, was a thrilling affair going the way of Norong trainer/driver Mark Buckingham’s six-year-old mare Shady Jess in 2-00.4.
Another of the Yole team, Raffas Ace, led out from gate five with Shady Jess trailing, but all this was to change racing for the bell when Walters, aboard Safe Jewels – a relative younger brigade of the team, made a lighting move from the tail to open up a huge lead in the final circuit.
Although clear in the straight, the run had nearly exhausted Shady Jess, who, after extricating wide, raced home a 2.3 metre winner from Raffas Ace, and Safe Jewels third a neck away.
The first of the Trotters – The Tellurian Wines was taken out by Toolern Vale trainer Paul Gabriel’s Aldebaran Stevie, a six-year-old daughter of Yield Boko and Im Sonialeelee, with Chris Svanosio handling the reins. The mile rate 2-05.5.
Heat Two – the Buds and Branches Florist saw Pipers Creek trainer/driver Tony Xiriha make a return to the winners’ list when eight-year-old Red Samurai-Spinster Clare gelding Buslin Brodie scored his first win since October 2021. The mile rate 2-06.6.
Bolinda trainer Kari Males brought up two wins in succession with five-year-old Art Major-Bellas Delight mare Le Belle Bijoux in the Vicbred Pace over 1690 metres to open proceedings.
Driven once again by Ararat-based Michael Bellman, Le Belle Bijoux coming off a Maryborough victory the previous Monday, settled four back in the moving line as well-supported favourite My Sweet Sabrina crossed Our Kinky Boots to assume control.
Going forward three wide exposed in the last lap, Le Belle Bijoux sustained the run to register a tough metre margin over the pacemaker returning a slashing mile rate of 1-55. Our Kinky Boots was third 1.5 metres away.
The Momentum Gaming Pace over 2180 metres saw the Walters/Yole combination victorious with nine-year-old gelding Classie American, who chalked up his 20th success in 160 starts. The mile rate 2-02.2.
Rochester trainer Mark Thompson has been a little quiet of late, but burst backwhen Thomas Royal scored in the 2180-metre C and M Build Group 3Y0 Maiden Pace.
With Jack Laugher in the sulky, Thomas Royal drew clear shortly after to register a runaway 17-metre margin over Rainbow Storm and Ringorella third 14.9 metres away. The mile rate 2-00.8.
Terang part-owner/trainer Kelly Stuart-Mitchell made the long trip worthwhile when her four-year-old gelding Keayang Omar led throughout from gate four to land the O’Brien Electrical Pace. With Chris Alford in the sulky, Keayang Omar coasted to the wire 4.7 metres clear of Feeling Enerjetic to be outside the winner on the home turn. After trailing the winner Smiling Shandy was third. The mile rate 2-00.6.
Euroa trainer/driver Cameron Maggs snared the 2180-metre Carlton and United Breweries Maiden Trotters Mobile with a nice type by the name of Sheetweb Weaver, a four-year-old gelded son of Yankee Spider and Bold Invasion.
Striding clear on the final bend, Sheetweb Weaver careered away to record a huge 33.4 metre victory in a rate of 2-03.1, from Hurricane Jane and Aldebaran Maverick.
Kilmore harness races are on again this Sunday.
