By Len Baker
Champion Bolinda reinsman Chris Alford took the honours at the Kilmore trotting fixture on Thursday, scoring a treble in a big 10 race program.
First to arrive for Alford was Captaintreacherous-Sahara Miss filly Sahara Breeze, a half sister to Mildura Cup victor Sahara Tiger, in the $10,000 APG Gold Bullion heat for Fillies over 1690 metres.
Trained at Drouin by Gary and Deb Quinlan with Deb holding a share along with breeders Peter Watkinson and Bruce Paul, Sahara Breeze was restrained from gate six to settle mid field in the moving line as polemarker Esmareldar led with Little Miss Lily outside her.
Going forward three wide in the last lap to join Little Miss Lily, who had taken care of Esmareldar on the final bend, Sahara Miss ran home stylishly to prevail by 1.8 metres over a game Little Miss Lily in a rate of 1-56.5. Paradise Valley a stablemate of the pacemaker ran home late from the rear for third 9.5 metres away.
Next along was four-year-old A Rocknroll Dance-Rakarata gelding Rakajed for recently licensed 50-year-old owner/trainer Jamie Kirk, of Dromana, in the MC Security Pace over 2180 metres.
Starting from the extreme draw, Rakajed lobbed one/one on the back of Dancing Dolly with Nevs Dream leading from gate two.
Not happy with the tempo, Alford sent Rakajed forward to race exposed at the bell before switching down to the sprint lane on turning to record a 1.9 metre margin over the leader, with Madame West third 8.3 metres away. The mile rate 2-00.7.
Four-year-old entire Nakedtruth was number three after taking the Garrards Horse and Hound Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres.
Despite racing roughly from gate three in the early stages, Nakedtruth settled mid-field and after moving to be one/one on the home turn, ran on best to score by a head over Mont Sally returning a mile rate of 2-05.2. Astro was third 3.3 metres back.
Another local winner was Monegeetta part-owner/trainer Jody Woodham-Murdoch with four-year-old Shadow Play-Elle Mcarty gelding Mac Shadow snaring the 2180-metre O’Brien Electrical Pace with much travelled reinsman Ararat’s Michael Bellman in the sulky.
Going forward from gate four to cross polemarker Benjimagee, Mac Shadow toyed with his rivals, running out a 18.1 metre victor in advance of Betsys Joy and Benjimgee, which held third 6.5 metres back. The mile rate 2-00.3.
Romsey trainer/driver Chris Svanosio was successful with Father Patrick-Mason Magic filly Aldebaran Miley in the Broadstead Kilmore 3Y0 Trotters Mobile, over 2180 metres.
Allowed to balance from gate three settling five pegs in a strung out field as Satin Stride led from gate four, Aldebaran Miley came away from the markers to lead up the outside division for the final circuit and was too strong at the finish for the pacemaker defeating her by 4.5 metres in a mile rate of 2-02.2.
Shes Ruby Roo was third 11.2 metres back after using the sprint lane.
Moorilim trainer/driver David Moran was victorious with Huntsville-Suenos Dulces gelding Roryville in the 1690 metre APG Gold Bullion (heat) for 3Y0 Colts and Geldings.
Classy Huntsville-Moremi Miss colt Mister Hunter made it two from two by taking the second heat for Colts and Geldings while Nagambie trainer/driver Mel Thackeray landed the Worlds Best Hoof Oil Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres with Aldebaran Tanisha.
The four-year-old daughter of Aldebaran Eagle and Aldebaran Turnpike delighted Aldebaran Park principal Duncan McPherson and part-owners Danny and Mel Thackeray.
On a night where the sprint lane was so prominent, Aldebaran Tanisha was given a beaut trip from inside the second line trailing Silent Reverieand finished hard along the inside to score by 3.5 metres from Elegant Peak and Poppy Popstar third. The mile rate 2-04.
Junortoun’s Ellen Tormey, caretaker trainer for father John in Charlton, was victorious with ever reliable Mach Three-Kateeshar six-year-old gelding Shaq in the 2180 metre Jet Roofing Pace.
Veteran Coimadai trainer/driver Graeme Whittle brought up a hat-trick with six-year-old Majestic Son-Melpark Sunrise mare Amunet by taking the Hip Pocket Castlemaine Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres. A winner of a Maryborough heat and final affair earlier in the month, Amunet led virtually throughout to win in a breeze.
The next Kilmore harness meeting is on again on Tuesday, May 9.
