By ‘Pegs’
KYNETON trainer Liam Howley saddled up $3.30 favourite Fiftysevenyears for an impressive win at Geelong on Friday.
The New Zealand-bred three-year-old gelded son of Street Boss and Belle Chantecler, having only his third race start, was a comfortable winner of the Cement Australia Maiden Plate over 1540 metres.
Starting from the outside barrier, the in-form hoop Harry Coffey had the gelding sitting behind the leader until the 300 metres when going to the lead to easy account for the 50-1 emergency Blacklit Beauty by two and a half lengths with Tenace, $9, a half-head away third.
“He’s a good horse,” Howley said.
“He did exactly what I thought he would do.
“We’ll let the dust settle for the next few days and perhaps the Port Adelaide Guineas over 1800 metres might be an option.”
The listed $100,000 Guineas will be run at Morphettville on April 8.
Raced by Liam Howley Racing for family and friends, Fiftysevenyears had a minor placing prior to his win.
Hooftnote: Howley’s stable star Virtuous Circle ran a creditable race in the $3-million Group 1 Australian Cup. He was slow to begin and was held up for clear running approaching the 300 metres before being steadied and tightened for room at the 300-metre mark.
Back-to-back for Jody’s Pill Box
Coming off a debut win for the Kilmore stable at Broken Hill a fortnight earlier, the Jody Thompson-trained Pill Box, $6, led virtually from go to whoa in taking out the bet365 Odds Drift 0-58 Handicap over 1200 metres on at Donald on Sunday.
Ridden by Jack Hill, the Fighting Sun six-year-old gelding, starting from the outside barrier, was allowed to get his feet and went to the lead and was never headed.
The gelding defeated Guaranteed, $5, by one and a quarter lengths, with Sanctimonious, $21, third.
Formerly trained by Neville Kennedy, the gelding is now raced by the Thompson Family, former Kilmore trainer Angie Barton, and other stable clients headed by Pat Mifsud.
Pill Box has now won 10 races with seven minor placings from his 54 starts.
Picnic dead-heats
Kilmore picnic rider Tyson Barton had to share the spoils in the first race at Healesville picnic races on Saturday.
Barton was aboard the Tony Carter-Smith-trained Rider’s Delight, $11, with the judge failing to split the Barry Goodwin-trained More Than Involved, $4.20.
Having only his second start for Barton, the Your Song four year-old gelding was purchased online by the Kilmore trackrider.
“It was my first ever dead heat. The horse went well,” Barton said.
Rider’s Delight was having his 14th start.
Later on the program in the Healesville On Course Bookmakers’ Healesville Cup, the judges failed to split the first two placegetters.
Kilmore Thursday
Kilmore Racing Club will host its next turf meeting at bet365 Park Kilmore this Thursday. For Trackside Bistro or alfresco dining, call the club on 5783 0777.
