By Len Baker
IT was a great night of harness racing on Saturday when Kilmore’s annual memorial race night recognised the many local families who have been heavily involved in the sport.
The feature race – the $24,000 Popular Alm Sprint over 1690 metres – went to five-year-old Bettors Delight-Ashlees Babe gelding Bettor Isolate.
Trained by Mattie Craven, based at Ecklin South near Terang, and driven by brother Glenn, Bettor Isolate began fast from gate four to lead before being eased to allow polemarker Mynameisjeff.
Bettor Isolate assumed control entering the straight on the first occasion and enjoyed a cosy trip to use the sprint lane and prevail by a half head over a game Tango Tara, which raced uncovered for the final circuit.
Like A Wildfire, three wide last lap from the rear, was third 1.6 metres way. The mile rate was a slick 1-53.2.
The other highlight of the night was the $20,000 Vin Knight Memorial Pace, over 2180 metres, in which Andy Gath’s Kiwi-bred six-year-old Lincoln Royal-Pull The Pin gelding Pull The Other Leg was a surprise victor – much to the delight of the large number of owners involved.
Driven by wife Kate, Pull The Other Leg, better known as a front of the field horse, on this occasion was taken back to the rear from gate four as Khafaji led from gate two.
Trailing both Roarforroscow and Arggghhh forward three wide in the last lap, Pull The Other Leg, still a long way off the leaders and very wide on the final bend, sprouted wings in the straight to blouse Khafaji by a neck, with Arggghhh a neck back third in a thrilling finish. The mile rate was 1-56.
The Winter Championship (Heat 1) over 2180 metres named in honour of Ken ‘Snowy’ Chapman opened the program, which saw Horsham owner/trainer Aaron Dunn successful with smart four-year-old Sunshine Beach-Sassy Rose gelding Eyethink.
He led throughout from gate four to account for Rocknroll Walla, which trailed by 4.1 metres in a mile rate of 1-57.1. Polemarker Beta Than Love was third 4.1 metres away.
Heat 2 of the Winter Championship – The Bob Cain Memorial saw Melton trainer Dean Braun victorious with ex-New Zealander seven-year-old Changover-Artistic Class gelding Holy Basil in a rate of 1-58.6.
With Nathan Jack in the sulky, Holy Basil was given an easy time three back in the running line from gate four to finish strongly out wide to score by 2.8 metres from Codename Marcus.
Wotdidusaaay battled on gamely for third 2.3 metres back after racing exposed for most of the trip. The final will be held this Saturday at Melton.
The Don Logie Memorial Pace, over 1690 metres, was a rough result for most punters with Elmore trainer Keith Cotchin’s four-year-old Betting Line-Art Start mare Diamond Shooz flashing home late from well back. The margins 1.4 metres by a neck in 1-54.6.
One of the district’s biggest families in harness, the Mifsuds, were honoured by the Leli and Mary Mifsud Memorial 3Y0 Pace for fillies over 2180 metres.
Drouin co-trainers Gary and Debbie Quinlan caused a major upset when Captaintreacherous-Sahara Miss filly Sahara Breeze, driven by Greg Sugars, scored over the almost unbackable favourite Joyful outside her, to register a neck victory in 1-55.9. Scheming finished third along the sprint lane 2.9 metres back.
The Bob Knight Memorial, over 1690 metres, was taken out by Sutton Grange trainer Ross Graham’s seven-year-old Major Bronski-Korabeit Princess gelding Major Manbar giving Nathan Jack a double.
Sweet Passion, which had her chance along the sprint lane, was second with Ozzie Playboy third 5.4 metres back. The mile rate 1-55.1.
Andy and Kate Gath finished the night on a high note after six-year-old Love You-Sumthingaboutmaori gelding Central Otago was an easy winner of the 2180 metre Roger Reeves Memorial Trotters Mobile.
Going forward at the start from gate three, Kate put the foot down when the speed slackened to take over and Central Otago was allowed to bowl along at the leisure, running out an easy four-metre victor in 2-00.8, from Majestical Belle and Revelstoke was third three metres back.
An 11-event program at Kilmore on July 6 featured a win to Wallan trainer Ruth Shinn and son Chris, who took out the 1690-metre Carlton and United Breweries Pace with four-year-old Archaa.
The A Rockroll Dance-Shes Pinkalicious gelding brought up his two wins in succession.
Bred and raced by husband Noel, Archaa finished his race off well to record a two-metre margin in advance of Our Princess Di, which trailed the winner easing outside him on the home turn. The mile rate 1-57.
Kilmore’s next harness meeting is on this Thursday.
