By Len Baker
After a short lay-off, the trots were off and running again at Kilmore on March 28 with an interesting 10-race program.
The trotters were in the limelight during the night with five races dedicated to the gait.
The first of the trotting races, the 2180-metre Georgina and Co 2Y0 and Older Maiden Trotters Mobile, opened the meeting and Kyabram part-owner/trainer Peter Hall landed the major prize when three-year-old Creatine-Princessa Ruth filly Shes Ruby Roo was victorious.
Driven by Nathan Jack, Shes Ruby Roo led easily from gate two and after an easy time, kicked clear on turning to score by 13.2 metres in advance of Mriya Dream from the rear. Balliangus ,after trailing the winner from the pole, battled away from third 18 metres away. The mile rate 2:04.3.
Elmore trainer Keith Cotchin’s five-year-old Love You-Mangonique mare Meadowvalley Lover at the amazing odds of $71 landed the New Life Laser Therapy Trotters Mobile over 1690 metres with Tayla French in the sulky.
Settling one/one from gate three, Meadowvalley Lover vacated the prime spot shortly after the start to race outside the well-fancied leader Aldebaran Stevie.
Despite the tough passage, Meadowvalley Lover gained the upper hand in the straight to record a strong 2.6-metre margin from Kyvalleyhoneybunny, with Aldebaran Stevie 3.4 metres back in third place. The rate 2:00.6.
The 1690-metre Southside Stockfeeds Trotters Mobile saw Carlsruhe trainer/driver Jack Sullivan greet the judge with Major Max, a handy five-year-old gelded son of Majestic Son and Nicky Newky who had won at Kilmore in January.
Racing a little roughly from outside the second line as the start was effected, Major Max settled at the tail of the field as polemarker Amunet led.
Still last at the bell, Major Max was sent forward three wide in the final circuit, and sustained a long run to gain the day by a head over Amunet in a 2:00.4 mile rate. Kilmore hope Astro was third 8.1 metres away off a midfield passage for Billy Milner.
Nathan Jack brought up a double after taking the O’Brien Electrical Trotters Mobile over 1690 metres aboard the Darryn Rowney-trained seven-year-old Red Samurai-Dooleys Girl gelding C’mon Carl Lee, which returned a mile rate of 2:00.1.
Beginning fast from gate five to join the leader Savvy Kyvalley, C’mon Carl Lee assumed control shortly after to coast to the wire 11.2 metres clear of Savvy Kyvalley, with Mariachi third, 2.8 metres away.
The fast-class Worlds Best Hoof Oil Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres was taken out by Campbells Creek trainer Bradley Cross’ nine-year-old gelding Downunder Barkers, driven by Ellen Tormey.
Angling three wide in the last lap, Downunder Barkers was too strong at the finish, accounting for Rakero Blaze easily by 9.5 metres in a rate of 2:00.7. Baxter was third, 8.2 metes away after easing three wide on the final bend.
Bolinda reinsman Chris Alford produced the drive of the night to land the MC Security Vicbred Pace, over 2180 metres, aboard the Craig Demmler-trained five-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven-Mach Robyn mare Heavenly Gipsy.
Settling three back in the moving line from gate four on the second line, Alford sent the mare forward with a rush at the bell to cross the poleline pacemaker Merry Dancer and led for the rest of the journey, scoring by a half-neck over Mitzi Said (three pegs) and Merry Dancer, who was 3.5 metres away third. The rate 2:00.4.
Derrinal trainer/driver Glenn Bull loves racing at Kilmore and snared the 1690-metre Garrards Horse And Hound Pace with four-year-old gelding Very Tempting. Favourite Joey Hangover battled on courageously for second, with Calypso Mistress third, four metres back. The mile rate 1:58.8.
The Strathfieldsaye Anderson Racing Team produced a new Kiwi by the name of Rimu Valley to capture the Beraldo Coffee Pace over 2180 metres, restricted to concessional reinspersons.
Trained by Julie Douglas and driven by Adrian Pace, Rimu Valley led all of the way from gate four in defeating Speedy Spida, which trailed after an unsuccessful bid for the lead, and Direct Command was third. The margins 4.3 metres by a head in a mile rate of 1:59.
Another Bendigo winner was Alex ‘Alby’ Ashwood’s trained and driven Feels Lika Boss in the 1690-metre Jet Roofing Pace in a mile rate of 1:59.3, while Charlton father and daughter Shane and Abby Sanderson landed the Momentum Gaming 3Y0 Pace over 2180 metres with Downbytheseaside-Lonnie Franco gelding Ourmatemenko, in a rate of 1:58.8.
Kilmore will host its next race meeting on April 27.
