By Len Baker
Kilmore trainers Rita Burnett and Ben Yole scored wins at the Kilmore harness fixture on Thursday.
Burnett’s smart four-year-old Well Said-Mitzi M Hanover mare Mitzi Said landed the O’Brien Electrical Pace over 1690 metres and, in doing so, brought up two wins in succession.
Yole landed the Hip Pocket Workwear Pace over the same trip with seven-year-old Well Said-Ay Tee Em gelding Gottahaveahobbie.
Driven by daughter Monique Burnett, Mitzi Said was slowly away from gate three, settling four-back in the moving line as old-timer Sofala flew the start from gate four to lead.
Going forward with a rush three wide in the last lap, Mitzi Said raced to the front in the straight to record a head margin over Heathbern Bruce, which flashed late after weaving in-between runners, with Sofala holding third 1.9 metres away. The mile rate 1-55.6.
Gotahaveahobbie, with stable employee Taylor Youl in the sulky, came from three pegs after starting from inside the second line.
Rendezvous, first up since October 2021, led from gate three for Darby McQuigan.
Kicking clear on the final bend, Rendezvous appeared to have the race in his keeping, however after angling wide in the straight, Gottahaveahobbie sprouted wings to gain the day by a half neck.
Roll With Ron was third 2.4 metres away after moving to race exposed at the bell. The mile rate 1-58.1.
Romsey trainer/driver Chris Svanosio snared the 2180-metre Broadstead Kilmore Trotters Mobile with promising mare Aldebaran Demi, a four-year-old daughter of Aldebaran Eagle and Aldebaran Maori.
Not wasting any time, Aldebaran Demi was off and running from gate three on the second line to cross Lindy Grace in the back straight on the first occasion and rated to perfection, held too many guns for Lindy Grace, greeting the judge by 4.5 metres.
One Muscle Hill ran his usual honest race for third, 6.2 metres back.
Harkness trainer Joe Pace and son Adrian opened the program when Rock N Roll Heaven-Its Powder Blue filly Diamondsnblue cruised to an all the way victory from gate four in the TAB 3Y0 and Older Fillies and Mares Maiden Pace over 1690 metres.
She accounted for I See Iris along the sprint lane, which trailed from the pole, while Glemelly Beach was third after racing uncovered. The margins 1.5 by 2.3 metres in a mile rate of 1-59.5.
Longlea trainer Glenn Sharp loves the trotters and six-year-old Imperial Count-Aladen Star mare Bellmac Bambi chalked up her sixth success in 100 starts when successful in the 1690-metre MC Security Trotters Mobile.
Driven by local Josh Duggan, Bellmac Bambi used the sprint lane to register a 1.4-metre margin over a death-seating Crookwell Eyes, with Lisa Miles’ Rockford Peach coming from near last for third 10.2 metres back. The mile rate 2-01.3.
Four-year-old Bacardi Lindy-Always Treasure mare Dona Amalia made amends after looking a certainty at Geelong on September 27, taking the Jet Roofing Maiden Trotters Mobile over 1690 metres.
Trained by Charlton’s John Tormey, Dona Amalia raced uncovered outside the pacemaker Tara Tuff, with driver Jack Laugher rating her to suit. Striding clear on the final bend, Dona Amalia scored by 1.8 metres in a rate of 2-01.6 from Designs and Gunslinger.
The Buds and Branches Florist 2Y0 Trotters Mobile saw Beeac trainer/driver Courtney Slater’s Majestic Son-Idle Lea colt Emmwallen make it two from two at Kilmore.
In a two-horse war up the running, Emmwallen did best to record a strong 1.6 metre margin over Aldebaran Campbell, with Manda Kyvalley third 7.7 metres back. The mile rate 2-03.3.
Long Forest trainer Andy Gath and wife Kate combined to land the Momentum Gaming Pace over 2180 metres with Sanday, a six-year-old gelded son of Western Terror and Ezee Duzit Lombo.
The Georgina and Co Pace for young drivers over 2180 metres saw victory go to recently re-located Harkness trainer Connor Crook’s five-year-old Art Major-Classic Malibu gelding Montana Flash in 2-03.2.
With neighbour Blake Pace in the sulky, Montana Flash finished best to score by a neck from the pacemaker Direct Command and Heygoyougoodthing which raced uncovered finish a neck away third.
Kilmore’s next harness races are on again this Thursday.
