By Len Baker
The second night honouring past area participants at Kilmore on Thursday featured a most entertaining 10-race program.
Those to be remembered during the evening were Jack Knight, Dick Barber, Reg Shinn, Charlie Bell and J.P ‘Jack’ McKay – all well-known names in the industry.
The Jack Knight Memorial over 2180 metres saw victory go to Strathfieldsaye trainer Julie Douglas’ four-year-old Changeover-Starlit Orion gelding Epic Orion.
Driven by Daryl Douglas, Epic Orion scored by a half head from Bronski Moment, which used the sprint lane off the back of the leader Einstein, with Shaken Sands third 1.4 metres back. The mile rate 2-04.1.
Romsey trainer Chris Svanosio’s four-year-old Used To Me-Cupid Seelster mare Queen Of Quebec chalked up two wins in succession at Kilmore when it won 2180-metre Dick Barber Memorial Trotters Mobile.
With stable foreman Ross Payne again in the sulky, Queen Of Quebec starting solo on the second line before leading the outside division prior to the bell and racing clear on the final bend to register a 4.4-metre margin over Silent Reverie, which had trailed the pacemaker Aldebaran Stevie.
Chantilly Dee was gigantic in running third a head back after giving away an impossible start after galloping. The mile rate 2-0.4.
The 2180-metre Reg Shinn Memorial 2Y0 Trotters Mobile went the way of Bunbartha trainer John Newberry’s impressive Volstead-Tricea Powell filly Nordic Reign, with Newberry’s son Matthew in the sulky.
Beginning fast from outside the front line to lead, Nordic Reign was untroubled to record an 8.3-metre victory from Courages Law after a bad beginning when giving away a huge margin. Dead Set Crazy was third a nose away after a bad beginning. The mile rate 2-05.
The Charlie Bell Memorial Trotters Handicap, over 2150 metres, was taken out by Melton duo Maree and John Caldow’s most consistent five-year-old Father Patrick-Solar Flash mare Sangreal in 2-03.2, running out a 7.7 metre victor over Red White And Bloom.
The Caldows brought up a double after five-year-old Petrock-Lauper mare Our Kinky Boots snared the JP McKay Memorial Pace over 2180 metres in a thrilling finish.
Leading out from gate two, Our Kinky Boots was eased to allow Four Star Saint next door to take over, giving her the run of the race.
Using the sprint lane, Our Kinky Boots recorded a head margin over Shaq and Jillibyjacksparrow returning a mile rate of 1-59.2.
The Thirties Pace Final over 2180 metres went to the Kilmore Ben Yole/Taylor Youl combination when eight-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven-Rossangel Gold gelding Fly Like An Angel recorded his sixth success in 68 outings.
Going forward three wide from three back uncovered in the last lap, Fly Like An Angel led on turning to score by 9.3 metres from Righteously and Madam Auckland. The mile rate 2-02.1.
The $10,000 Alabar Vicbred Platinum Mares Sprint Championship 10th heat, over 1690 metres, saw Charlton trainer John Tormey’s mare Twister Bliss, driven by Jack Laugher, overcome an extreme draw position to score in a mile rate of 1-56.
Meredith co-trainers Emmett and Richard Brosnan snared the quinella in the 1690 metre Jet Roofing 3Y0 Maiden Pace with Huntsville-Ocean Oro filly Imagination Oro, driven by Chris Alford, defeating Inexorable in a mile rate of 1-58.7.
Great Western trainer Daryl Crone used the services of Maryborough’s Tina Ridis aboard Wishing Stone-Yankee Princess gelding Prince Of Rock to register a massive 39.8-metre victory in the Garrards Horse and Hound 3Y0 Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres.
Kilmore trainer Thomas Parnell’s six-year-old Four Starzzz Shark-Chess Timer gelding Starzzzofmichael won the Hip Pocket Workwear Maiden Pace over 1690 metres in a close finish.
Driven by Rita Burnett, Starzzzofmichael ran home best four-wide off a one-one trip from gate five to blouse Major Suspect by a neck, with Ariarne third a half neck away, in a mile rate of 2-02.1.
Kilmore harness races are again this Thursday.
