By Len Baker
What was scheduled to be another massive 10-event card was reduced to eight races when the Kilmore harness meeting on Thursday was cut short.
There was an abrupt cancellation of the meeting after race eight when heavy fog, a real ‘pea-souper’, rolled into the course making visibility impossible.
There were many local winners at the meeting, sponsored by Victorian Harness Racing Club.
Kilmore’s Aussie Mifsud trained and reined Little Tedey to land the 2180-metre VHRC/Aldebaran Park Our Members Trotters Mobile.
A five-year-old gelded son of Peak and Mother Nature, raced by Garry McCabe and partners, Little Tedey moved from one/two to one/one on the final bend to set out after Hi Ho Kyvalley.
Running home well, Little Tedey scored by 2.7 metres from Bee Bee Boroc to be three wide on straightening. Hi Ho Kyvalley held down third, 1.7 metres back. The mile rate 2-05.
Bolinda trainer Alison Alford was successful with Centurian-Tuppeny Bit filly Belleza in the VHRC/Aldebaran Park 3Y0 Maiden Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres.
Driven by Alison’s husband Chris, Belleza led throughout from gate two, accounting for Keayang Sadie whose effort was outstanding after giving her rivals a gigantic start and circling the field to race exposed at the bell to go down by 1.4 metres.
Polemarker Kaotic Flair was third 3.2 metres away after trailing the winner. The mile rate 2-06.9.
Alford brought up a double after winning the 2180-metre VHRC/Harness Racing Victoria Pace aboard Bolinda trainer Brent Lilley’s Hugo Maguire.
Heaving fog made it hard to see the ex-Kiwi three-year-old Sweet Lou-Zenola Starbuck gelding surge clear at the bell to run out a big 19.8 metre victor, in advance of Alexis Rocket and Bronski Royal. The mile rate was 1-59.4.
Romsey trainer Chris Svanosio and stable foreman Ross Payne combined to land the VHRC/Aldenaran Park Trotters Mobile, over 2180 metres, with smart four-year-old Used To Me-Cupid Seelster mare Queen Of Quebec, much to the delight of the large group who race her.
Restrained from gate three to settle a ‘mile’ off the leader Heir Apparent, Queen Of Quebec gradually made ground to be three back in the running line in the last lap.
Going forward three wide on the final bend, Queen Of Quebec was super in the straight, racing away to record a 10.4-metre margin over the pacemaker in a 2-00.3 mile rate. Sir Ed was third 8.8 metres away.
Monegeetta trainer David Miles, presently successfully campaigning in Queensland, snared the 2180-metre VHRC/Rich River Golf Club 3Y0 Vicbred Pace with Art Major-Iridrum Castle filly Matriart.
Driven by Michael Bellman, Matriart went forward with a three-wide trail from midfield on the back of Barney Bill in the final circuit and finished hard out wide on turning to prevail by a neck from stablemate Rockaway Beach, which followed the pair. The mile rate 2-01.9.
Trainer Glenn Bull, from Deminal near Heathcote, continued his great season when five-year-old Captaintreacherous-Vansumic gelding Treacheroustimes led throughout in the 1690-metre VHRC/Del-Re National Food Group Pace.
The race was for concessional reinspersons who have driven less than 25 winners and it was Heathcote’s Sean O’Sullivan victorious.
Treacheroustimes raced away on the home turn to greet the judge, 2.3 metres clear of General Lincoln, which raced outside him battling on gamely, with Jilliby Jacksparrow third. The mile rate 1-59.8.
Highly promising four-year-old Muscle Hill-Lotsalov gelding Hesallmuscle, raced by Danny and Joanne Zavitsanos along with Avenue Bloodstock Syndicate, chalked up his fifth success in 11 even outings after cruising to the wire in the VHRC/Aldebaran Park Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres.
Trained by Emma Stewart at Cardigan and driven by the stable’s number one reinsman Mark Pitt, Hesallmuscle crossed the leader Andover Sun shortly after the start to score over Andover Sun in a mile rate of 2-00.3.
The stable and Mark Pitt made it a double when unbackable three-year-old Art Major-Celebrity Ball colt Major Celebrity led all of the way from gate two in the VHRC/GBL Property Consultants Pace over 1690 metres, coasting to the wire 2.6 metres ahead of Wemadefreo in a mile rate of 1-55.9.
Kilmore harness races are on again on Thursday.
