The third and final night of Kilmore Racing Club’s harness memorial nights on Thursday featured another big 10-race card.
Those remembered were Gianni Mifsud, Barry Alford, Bill Harding and Graeme Wilson – all well-known district names in the harness industry.
The Gianni Mifsud Memorial Trotters Mobile opened the program with Marong co-trainers Terry and wife Jacinta-Allan Gange’s smart five-year-old Changeover-Jomeka gelding Bullapark Beno bringing up two wins in succession.
Driven by James Herbertson, Bullapark Beno was much too strong over the concluding stages to account for Stick With Me, and Kyvalley Helen was their in a mile rate of 2-03.4.
The 2180-metre Barry Alford Memorial Pace saw trainer/driver Glenn Bull’s keep up his great Kilmore record when eight-year-old American Ideal-Rocky Bay Lass gelding Regal Rock led throughout in a mile rate of 1-56.8.
Raced by the Bull family of Derrinal, near Heathcote, Bull adopted ‘catch me if you can’ tactics with the result never in doubt, scoring by 5.2 metres in advance of Nothingbutwaves, which trailed from the pole after leading out momentarily. Blue Gannon was third 4.9 metres back.
Kilmore listed trainer Ben Yole and stable reinswoman Taylor Youl snared the Bill Harding Memorial Pace over 1690 metres with Major Assassin, an eight-year-old gelded son of Art Major and Princess Cassi.
Going forward three wide in the last lap, Major Assassin outstayed his rival to record a half neck margin over Montana Pride off a three wide trail last lap from midfield, with track specialist Lotakevi third. The mile rate was 1-56.9.
The 2180-metre Graeme Wilson Memorial Trotters Mobile went the way of Congupna breeder/owner/trainer/driver Eddie Tappe’s four-year-old Majestic Son-Aldebaran Poppy gelding Im Bobby.
At start 45, Im Bobby recorded his fifth success and his second win in succession.
Heats of the Haras Des Trotteurs Nutrien Equine Classic over 2180 metres for three-year-olds and two-year-olds highlighted the program – the first of the 3Y0 fillies heats going to Emma Stewart’s Tradie Lady, a daughter of Trixton and Glenferrie Unixa and driven by Mark Pitt in a rate of 2-01.9.
Heat two, also for fillies, saw the Sugars team – Jess and Greg – victorious with Shes Ruby Roo in 2-02.6.
Vici Bloom flew away from outside the front line and raced to the front with Shes Ruby Roo, who issued a strong challenge to gain the day by a nose in a mile rate of 2-02.6.
Heat three for Colts and Geldings went to Great Western trainer Daryl Crone’s Wishing Stone-Yankee Princess colt Prince Of Rock who brought up a hat-trick of wins in a mile rate of 2-00.5.
Heat for two-year-old fillies went the way of Avenel trainer/driver David Aiken’s Maoris Mac, a daughter of Volstead and Maori Daunou, who won after a sweet passage from gate two.
In the C and G heat, Sydneysider Valtino, a colt by Love You from Aspiring Eve, trained by Blake Fitzpatrick and driven by Greg Sugars, led throughout from the pole to easily account for Val Thorens and Aldebaran Marcus. The mile rate was 2-12.5.
To the cheers of the locals, Alannah Logie’s four-year-old Sportswriter-Macray Amore gelding Scrittore was successful in the Alabar Vicbred Platinum Maiden Pace over 2180 metres.
With Corey Bell in the sulky, Scrittore settled handy three back in the moving line from gate two on the second line before going forward three wide approaching the bell to park outside the poleline pacemaker Sounds Like Fun.
Gaining cover for the last lap after Helen Bet Mary was set alight to join the leader, Scrittore angled wide on turning and ran home best to prevail by 3.3 metres from Cherokee Jack. The mile rate was 2-00.4.
Kilmore’s next harness racing meeting is on Sunday.
• I was saddened to hear the passing of Kilmore committeeman and Review journalist Paul Egan. I used to always enjoy having a chat with Paul whenever attending Kilmore trots. Sincere condolences are extended to his family.
