By Len Baker
Winners from across the region headed the list at Thursday night’s massive 11-race card at Kilmore.
In-form Romsey trainer/driver Chris Svanosio was victorious with smart four-year-old Trixton-Justa Phoenix gelding Arcee Phoenix in the VHRC – Aldebaran Park Benefiting Out Members Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres.
Going forward from outside the front line to cross Hillside shortly after the start, Arcee Phoenix, in its first race since December, raced away on the final bend to record an easy 22.1-metre margin in advance of Hold The Gold and Imperial Whiz, who was 4.5 metres away in third place. The mile rate 2-00.3.
Ben Yole and James Herbertson combined to land the VHRC GGI ‘The Thirties’ Pace over 2189 metres with heat winner Didn’t I and in doing so, brought up a hat-trick of wins, leading throughout to greet the judge 1.2 metres clear of Icanmotor in a rate of 2-00.2. Favouritehighlight was third 3.8 metres away.
Bolinda trainer Brent Lilley and neighbouring reinsman Chris Alford were successful with Skyvalley-Kyvalley Café filly Kyvalley Amanda in the 2180 metre VHRC – Aldebaran Park Benefiting Our Members 3Y0 Trotters Mobile.
Beginning fast from gate five to lead, Kyvalley Amanda was restrained to allow Sister Evarista to cross before angling off her back to again take control.
Travelling kindly for the rest of the journey, Kyvalley Amanda, bred and raced by loyal stable client Jim Connelly, just lasted by a half neck over Sister Evarista, which angled off her back on straightening, with Vici Bloom 5.2 metres back third after following the pair. The mile rate 2-03.1.
Monegeeta’s David Miles, fresh from a profitable two weeks at Menangle with bonny filly Rockinwithattitude, snared the VHRC – Aldebaran Park Benefiting Out Members Trotters Maiden Mobile over 1690 metres with Boxing Nick.
The four-year-old gelded son of Quaker Jet and Tennessee Trump went forward from gate four to assume control from Kalarney Prince, which flew away on the first turn.
Boxing Nick was always in control, running out a 5.4-metre victor from Kalarney Prince in a rate of 2-03.4. Polemarker Hurricane Jane was third 2.1 metres back.
Underrated Parwan trainer Philip Chircop produced Rock N Roll Heaven-Receiver colt Flying Sparks to register a first-up victory on debut in the VHRC Del-Re National Food Group 3Y0 Maiden Pace over 1690 metres.
Driven by Josh Dickie, Flying Sparks was given a sweet passage from gate two on the back of the odds-on favourite Lochinvar Lorenzo, which had led easily from the pole.
Racing roughly and dropping back approaching the final bend, Flying Spark got going again on turning and finished full of running to blouse the leader by 3.1 metres, returning a mile rate of 1-57.3. Inexorable was third 1.6 metres away.
Avenel trainer Wayne Potter landed the 1690-metre VHRC – Rich River Golf Club 3Y0 Maiden Pace with Art Major-Rocknroll Dolly filly The Majors Girl.
Driven by Nathan Jack, The Majors Girl was another to trail the leader Riveera, before using the sprint lane to prevail by a half head only from Riveera. Aberdene was third a neck away. The mile rate 2-01.7.
Avenel’s Juana Breen trained and reined four-year-old Betting Line-Stylish Boulevard gelding Our Mystery Bet greeted the judge first in the VHRC – Heywoods Shepparton Motor Panels Pace over 2180 metres.
Despite racing uncovered from gate five, Our Mystery Bet was too solid at the finish, scoring by a head from Miyagi Boy from the tail. Bettor Than Most was third. The mile rate 2-02.1.
Strathfieldsaye trainer Julie Douglas and stable reinsman Jack Laugher scored a double on the night – Major Collect in the VHRC Super Bonus Program Pace in 1-59.5, and Alexis Rocket in the $500,000 Available In VHRC Super Bonuses Pace.
Congupna trainer Steven Duffy’s six-year-old Bitobliss-Meandmyshadow gelding Justcallmeaza, driven by son Ryan, won the VHRC Yeaomans Slate and Stone Pace over 2180 metres.
The next Kilmore harness racing is on Thursday, June 1.
In other racing news…
Femme Americain fires
Kilmore trainer Annie Goble had a good win at Seymour on Sunday in the Bourne Racing 0-58 handicap, at the juicy odds of 10-1.
Jockey Tahlia Hope let the local mare settle and worked Femme Americain through the field for a strong win.
Hope was on fire last week, with a double at Warracknabeal on Saturday for the Patrick Payne stable, who also had a double at Flemington with apprentice Laura Lafferty steering both horses to victory.
It was a relatively quiet week for the district’s trainers, but meetings at Kilmore on Thursday and Wodonga on Friday will feature local runners.
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Earlier this month at Kilmore’s May 11 meeting, Kilmore trainer Alicia MacPherson had Modernissimo go down by a head in the last race of the day.
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace trained a double on the day.
On board Pasheona was a new rider to the Victorian riders ranks, Suraj Narredu, winning his first race in Victoria.
Young apprentice Jaylah Kennedy was also successful on Bavarian Lady for Dan O’Sullivan.
At Echuca’s May 13 meeting, Stephen Brown and Mitch Aitken were successful with Southern Fire in the maiden handicap over 1203 metres.
Also at Echuca, Kyneton trainer Charles Casser combined with Jason Maskiell to win with Here With Me at the good odds of $21.
In the Caledonian Hotel 0-58 Handicap that same day, Too Hard To Handle was third for local trainer Kate Goodrich.
