By Len Baker
Kilmore-based Alannah Logie, Bolinda’s Alexandra Hurley, Monegeetta’s David Miles and Kilmore duo Ben Yole and Robbie Walters all kept the home flag flying for the area at Kilmore’s 10-event night fixture on Thursday, with fast times the order of the night.
Handy six-year-old Dawn Ofa New Day-Electrical Storm gelding Daylight At Dawn trained by Logie was a surprise winner of the 1690-metre Jet Roofing Pace paying odds of $41.
Driven by Corey Bell, Daylight At Dawn was taken back at the start from outside the front line before taking inside runs when those in the running line were checked by a galloping Hit The Road Jack to lob one/one as polemarker Myzarmi led.
Easing three-wide approaching the home turn, Daylight At Dawn ran home stylishly to gain the day by a neck over a game death-seating Magic Mike, with Steel Screens third 1.6 metres away third. The mile rate 1-55.9.
The pair made it a double after five-year-old Western Terror-Sunday Rose gelding Northern Terror landed the 2180-metre Momentum Gaming Pace.
Given the run of the race from gate three trailing the pacemaker Ideal Investment which flew away from outside the front line, Northern Terror after easing outside the leader on the home turn did best to register a 4.6-metre margin over All Good along the sprint lane from midfield. Betterthanflyhigh was third a half head away. The mile rate 2-03.1.
Hurley’s Dreamcatcher-Melpark Miccole colt Lucid was a solid victor of the Broadstead Kilmore 3Y0 & Older Maiden Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres – much to the delight of Alex, and Adelaide-based sister Fran.
With Greg Sugars in the sulky, Luvid pushed through from gate two on the second line to face the breeze momentarily before crossing the leader That’s Your Opinion at the halfway mark.
Travelling beautifully, Luvid ran to the wire strongly to record a 9.5-metre margin in advance of Mista Walker and Avant Guard, which raced exposed from the bell finishing 1.5 metres back. The mile rate 2-02.5.
Miles’ trained and driven Hes Watching-Diamond Castle filly Look Like Diamonds snared the 1690-metre MC Security 2Y0 Pace returning a rate of 1-55.3.
After being trapped in the open from gate four, Miles eased Looks Like Diamonds looking to drop to the inside for cover but the gap closed so instead he sent her full bore to attack the leader Kathys Free and after spending plenty of petrol, raced to the front with a circuit to travel.
When Major Alliance came off the inside three pegs to race in the open for the last lap, he issued a strong challenge on turning, but Look Like Diamonds refused to give in and rallied strongly to score by 1.7 metres in a rate of 1-55.3. Our Roku was third 8.3 metres back.
Kilmore’s Robbie Walters, part of the Ben Yole operation, trained ‘iron’ seven-year-old Sportswriter-Madame Lily mare Madame Annie to register her 17th success in 133 outings when she scored a huge victory in the Buds and Branches Florist Mares Pace over 1690 metres.
Driven by Taylor Youl, Madame Annie made a lightning move from three back racing for the bell to cross Ynobe Dakota before running her rivals off their feet to score by 8.2 metres from Ynobe Dakota which stuck to her guns. Out Of Eden was third albeit 17.9 metres away. The rate 1-55.
Avenel trainer/driver Juanita Breen’s trained and reined five-year-old Four Starzzz Shark-Sayalittleprayer mare Royal Starzz snared the 2180-metre O’Brien Electrical Pace in a mile rate of 2-00.7.
Leading out from gate two before surrendering to Ambiguous at the bell, Royal Starzzz after angling away from the inside to join the leader on the home tun ran on best to prevail by 1.3 metres from Lorimermajor along the sprint lane from three pegs. Heathbern Bruce was third 1.2 metres back.
Charlton’s Ash Markham’s seven-year-old Well Said-Ay Tee Em gelding Gottahaveahobbie, trained in the name of Ben Yole, to an all the way success from outside the front line to land the 1690-metre Georgina and Co Pace in a 1-56 rate.
Travelling sweetly throughout, Gottahaveahobbie never looked like being beaten, reaching the wire by a head only from On The Hunt on the back of third placegetter Sweet Annie May who was 2.1 metres back.
Other winners on the night were Milloo trainer Trish McVeigh, who combined with Greg Sugars to land the C and M Build 3Y0 and Older Maiden Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres with Aetos Dynamis; Strathfieldsaye’s Julie Douglas trained and Chris Alford driven filly Glemelly Beach in the 1690-metre TAB Fillies and Mares Maiden Pace; while the 1690-metre Carlton and United Breweries Pace saw Parwan trainer David Punch make a return to the winners list when lightly-raced gelding Somebeachdreamin scored in 1-58.2.
Kilmore will host its next harness racing meeting on November 2.