By Len Baker
Wallan trainer Ruth Shinn and reinsman son Chris snared a stable double at the 11-event race card at Kilmore on Tuesday.
Five-year-old Betterthancheddar-Shishi gelding Dabyminga won the C and M Build Pace, while four-year-old A Rocknroll Dance-Shes Pinkalicious gelding Archaa took out the Beraldo Coffee Pace, both races over 1690 metres.
Dabyminga, from gate two, who is never far away in his races, ran home strongly off a three-wide trail on the back of Always Locksley in the last lap after a midfield passage to defeat Always Locksley by a half head.
Poleline pacemaker Broadways Girl was a head away third in a thrilling finish. The mile rate 1-58.2.
Archaa, from gate six, moved forward to face the open before receiving a one/one passage and eased three wide on the home turn, running home best to prevail by a neck over Rockaria, which raced exposed outside Alcatraz Girl who was third 4.7 metres away. The mile rate 2-01.7.
Veteran Whittlesea trainer Charlie Farrugia’s 11-year-old Safari-Hanovian Princess gelding Little Safari chalked up his 18th success from 170 outings by taking the 1690-metre O’Brien Electrical Pace.
Driven by grandson Darren Zahra, Little Safari, raced by the pair, enjoyed a cosy trip one/one from gate three after racing outside the poleline leader Cee Cee Norman in the early stages.
Moving outside the pacemaker on the home turn after Carmy Dan crossed to assume control, Little Safari finished best to score by 2.8 metres from Mitzi Said, which made up many lengths from the tail. Albalou was third 2.8 metres away. The mile rate 1-59.
Veteran Longlea trainer/driver Brian Gath landed the Jet Roofing Maiden Pace over 1690 metres with Kyloan Queen, a four-year-old daughter of Racing Hill and Tess Franco bred and raced by long time stable clients Norm and John Visca and Darren and Kylie Emerson. The mile rate 1-59.2.
Four-year-old mare Lollipop greeted the judge at start number 18 in the Worlds Best Hoof Oil Maiden Pace over 1690 metres, much to the delight of passionate harness follower Emmy Mazzetti.
Trained by Bruce Morgan at Junortoun, Lollipop, with John Caldow in the sulky, enjoyed a sweet passage and, after easing three wide on the final bend, raced away in the straight to record a 11.6-metre victory in a mile rate of 2-00.3, over a death seating Epic Orion, with Hello I Tea third.
The 2180-metre MC Security 3Y0 Maiden Pace saw Well Said Nugget, driven by Nathan Jack for Shelbourne’s Kate Hargreaves, successful in a mile rate of 2-02.5, from Talisker Skipper and Till Next Time, third.
Torrumbarry trainer Faye McEwan and stable reinsman Josh Duggan snared the $10,000 Aldebaran Vicbred Platinum Maiden Trotters Mobile, over 2180 metres, with four-year-old gelding Ivar, who registered a 1.8-metre margin over Spider Blood and Kalarney Prince in third. The mile rate 2-04.6.
The 1690-metre Buds and Branches Florist Pace went the way of Bendigo duo Alex Ashwood and Tayla French’s five-year-old Pet Rock-Berry Kiss gelding Blacktop Rock in 1-58.6.
Driven by French, Blacktop Rock ran home from midfield off a three-wide trail in the last lap following Write About Angus, with Lopez third 1.9 metres away. The mile rate 1-58.6.
The Carlton and United Breweries Pace, over 2180 metres, for concessional reinspersons saw a first-up Kiwi by the name of Alexis Rocket successful for Strathfieldsaye trainer Julie Douglas in a mile rate of 2-00.7.
Driven by Adrian Pace, the six-year-old gelding was quickly taken away from an inside second line draw to possie near last. In a winning tactical move, Alexis Rocket was switched to the inside in the last lap saving valuable ground before angling wide on turning and rushing home to score by 1.7 metres from Speedy Spida, with Cee Oh Dee using the sprint lane for third.
Parwan trainer Craig Demmler’s more than handy four-year-old mare Gipsy Princess was impressive in taking the Momentum Gaming Pace over 1690 metres with Chris Alford in the sulky. She led from gate two to defeat Le Belle Bijoux by 3.9 metres, and Heavenly Brigade third. The mile rate 1-58.
Six-year-old gelding Gee Cee Calder brought up two wins in succession with another solid performance to take the 2180-metre Tellurian Wines Trotters Mobile in a rate of 2-02.2.
Raced and trained by Balliang-based Tyrone Abela and driven by Chris Alford, Gee Cee Calder coasted to the wire 9.3 metres in advance of Sunny Spider in second and Baltic Spirit third, five metres away.
Kilmore’s next harness meeting is on Tuesday, March 28.
