By Len Baker
Champion Bolinda reinsman Chris Alford took the honours with a winning treble at a rain-affected Kilmore meeting, which was transferred to Melton, on Thursday night.
Harness Racing Victoria announced earlier on Thursday that the Kilmore night meeting would be transferred from Kilmore due to the track affected by heavy overnight rain.
First to arrive was four-year-old Betting Line-Maastricht mare Maas Betting Again, trained by Alford’s wife Alison, in the MC Security Pace over 1690 metres.
Taken back from gate six to settle four back in the moving line, Maas Betting Again cut loose three wide approaching the bell to park outside the leader Jay Bee for the final circuit.
Dashing to the front on the home turn, Maars Betting Again held a margin to the wire to score by 5.5 metres from Merry Dancer, with Shania Tee running home late from the rear for third 6.1 metres away. The mile rate 1-57.
Four-year-old Love You-Right Interest gelding Speedy Lover, trained at Avenel by David Aiken, brought up win number two for Alford by taking the 2180-metre Tellurian Wines Trotters Mobile.
Starting solo on the second line, Speedy Lover settled at the tail as Stockman Peter was able to cross Sonny Brooke.
Making ground to be one-one in a strung-out field, Speedy Lover angled three wide to race exposed at the bell and did best to register a 3.4 metre margin from Stockman Peter, which showed plenty of heart. Polemarker Constant was third 1.4 metres back. The mile rate 2-01.
Joining forces with neighbour Brent Lilley aboard four-year-old Love You-Chevron Express gelding Kyvalley Picasso in the Buds and Branches Florist Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres, Alford scored his third win of the night.
After giving Kyvalley Picasso a lovely trip from gate five, he raced to the front on turning to register a 2.7 metre margin in 2-02.9 from Night Whisperer, with rank outsider Star Down Under out wide third 4.8 metres back after spending most of the race at the rear.
On a night of multiple victories, 84-year-old Bet Bet part-owner/trainer Ray Cross combined with Anthony Butt to land the Momentum Gaming Trotters Mobile with six-year-old Imperial Count-Kumbya mare Countess Chiron, and the Georgina and Co Trotters Mobile with four-year-old Yankee Spider-Ima Thrill Seeker gelding Alfie Always – both horses home bred.
Countess Chiron lobbed three back in the moving line from the extreme draw and after moving three wide in the last lap, raced clear on the home turn to win in a breeze 13.7 metres ahead of Reigning Lillies and Silent Reverie who was 3.1 metres away after being held up slightly approaching the final bend. The mile rate 1-58.8.
Alfie Always led throughout from gate four to easily account for Montana Chevelle 16.5 metres in 1-59.6. Savvy Kyvalley, which trailed the leader, was third 6.9 metres away.
It was great to see Woodvale trainer Heather Morrissey in the winner’s circle following the victory of Sebastian K-Kamenshek gelding Koufax in the 2180-metre O’Brien Electrical 2Y0 Maiden Trotters Mobile.
Bred and raced by husband Bill, Koufax was given a sweet one-one trip by Neil McCallum and did best to blouse a death-seating Majestic Monarch from outside the front line by a neck in a rate of 2-06.3.
Always handy from the extreme draw, Silver Domino sprinted sharply to lead on the final bend to register a 2.1 metre margin from Interpretation with Bettororworse third 1.8 metres away. The mile rate 2-02.
Mount Cottrell trainer Jeremy Quinlan combined with John Caldow to capture the Carlton and United Breweries Maiden Pace over 1690 metres with four-year-old Western Terror-Ay Tee Em mare Seemeshineyheels in 1-58.9.
Given every opportunity one/one from gate two on the second line as Ribelle Rosa led from gate three, Seemeshineyheels, after easing three wide on the home turn, ran on best to record a 3.8-metre victory over the pacemaker.
Memphis held down third, a nose away after racing uncovered from gate two.
Leading trainer Emma Stewart and stable reinsman Mark Pitt notched up a double with first starter Some American colt taking the 1690-metre Worlds Best Hoof Oil 2Y0 Maiden Pace from Elusive and Bubby To Base in 1-55.5.
Kiwi-bred five-year-old Bettors Delight-Madam Superior gelding Supersede the Jet Roofing Pace over 2180 metres ahead of Our Kinky Boots and Nomorelying in 1-57.9. Both horses striding clear on the home turn.
The next Kilmore harness meeting is schedueld for June 20.
Macedon Ranges winners
At Yarra Valley the previous Monday, veteran Lancefield trainer Leon Conway had punters scratching their heads in disbelief after five-year-old Four Starzzz Shark-Gabbys Sweetheart mare Four Ever A Star, at odds of $41, won the Barry Plant Croydon Pace over 1650 metres.
Raced by Leon and partner Lisia Horton, Four Ever A Star driven by James Herbertson settled three back in the moving line from gate five as Alcatraz Girl began very fast from outside the front line to lead from polemarker My Lady Sarah, which immediately came away from her back to race exposed.
A winner of three from 18, Forever A Star returned a mile rate of 1-58.2.
Romsey’s Chris Svanosio is absolutely airborne at present and chalked up a stable with two three-year-olds – Aldebaran Miley taking the Blonde and Co. Trotters Mobile over 2150 metres and four-year-old gelding Better Brother the 1650-metre Yarra Valley Toyota Pace.
Aldebaran Miley, bred and raced by Aldebaran Lodge’s Peter Svanosio and Elizabeth Maclean, was tough after racing going forward to race exposed from an inside second line draw, before striding clear on the home turn to register an easy 14.8-metre victory in advance of former Sydneysider Gardena Ronda and Bacardi Wood.
Better Brother, bred and raced by Alan Flanders, went forward from gate five to lead throughout in defeating a game Sir Chow by 2.1 metres. New Yorker was third 1.5 metres away. The mile rate 1-57.2.
