By Len Baker
A variance of winners at different odds saw punters likely come out winning at Kilmore trots on Thursday as favourites won only half of the program.
Parwan trainer Craig Demmler was victorious in the opening race on the program – the Broadstead Kilmore 3Y0 Maiden Pace over 1690 metres – with Art Major-Nothing Else Matters filly She Really Matters having her second start.
Driven by Melton’s Josh Dickie, who only returned from his homeland a day earlier after attending the New Zealand Cup fixture on Tuesday, She Really Matters was given an easy time from the pole, trailing the pacemaker On A Night, which led from gate four.
Angling away from the inside approaching the final bend, She Really Matters gained a split on turning and finished best to prevail by 1.2 metres from Aberdene, with Riveera 1.9 metres away third. The mile rate 1-58.8.
Stawell part-owner/trainer Ray Harvey loves the trotters and Skyvalley-Earl Bella gelding Maoris Return, driven by Michael Bellman, landed the Hip Pocket Workwear 3Y0 Maiden Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres.
The 2180-metre Hanson’s Cleaning Service Trotters Mobile saw Kilmore’s Julie Mifsud in the winners’ stall after ex-Kiwi five-year-old Father Patrick-Cyclone Dani gelding Cyclone Lebron greeted the judge in a rate of 2-05.5.
Driven by husband Aussie, Cyclone Lebron began speedily from outside the front line to cross Ivar, which began quickly but was content to hand over to Cyclone Lebron shortly after the start.
Given an easy time, Cyclone Lebron defied all challengers to record a 9.2-metre margin over Zesta La Go Go wide on the home turn from four pegs, with Ivar 4.9 metres back in third place.
Julie and Aussie made it two for the night when Kiwi-bred five-year-old Sweet Lou-Stella Franco mare Luella snared the 2180-metre O’Brian Electrical Pace.
Coming away from an inside second line draw to possie four back in the moving line as Spun Silver flew across from outside the front line to lead, Luella sprinted to the wire brilliantly.
She won by a half neck from the Mifsud’s sister Rita Burnett’s Alistair Lavros, with honest gelding Icanmotor using the sprint lane off the weakening leader third 1.7 metres away. The mile rate 2-04.1.
Longlea trainer Glenn Sharp has a phenomenal record in square trotting races and added another to the list when in-form six-year-old Imperial Count-Aladen Star mare Bellmac Bambi led throughout from gate four in the 2180-metre MC Security Trotters Mobile.
Driven by Jack Laugher, Bellmac Bambi ran out a big 16-metre victor over Master Combatant, which trailed, and Sheza Chocolatier, who was 6.8 metres away third. The mile rate 2-06.8.
Laugher brought up a double after ex-Kiwi Rakero Slammer led all of the way in the 2180-metre Jet Roofing Pace.
Trained at Strathfieldsaye by Julie Douglas, Rakero Slammer ran out an easy 6.6-metre victor in advance of a death-seating Over The Odds, which battled on gamely.
After trailing the winner, Ruby Wingate was third 3 metres back. The mile rate 2-01.5.
Trainer Tony Xiriha, from Pipers Creek near Kyneton, is having a well-deserved hot run at present and eight-year-old Red Samurai-Spinster Clare mare Buslin Brody made it four wins in succession by taking the C and M Build Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres.
Coming away from the inside shortly after to again take control, Buslin Brody was never headed, running out a 3.9-metre winner in a rate of 2-03.7 over Aldebaran Boyd and Twixton, which ran on late after being held up at a crucial stage.
Bolinda’s Brent Lilley combined with Chris Alford to capture the 2180-metre Georgina and Co Trotters Mobile aboard five-year-old Skyvalley-Kyvalley Café mare Kyvalleyhoneybunny, raced by long-time stable client Jim Connelly.
Beginning safely from gate three. Kyvalleyhoneybunny was given an easy time to run out a 2.9-metre victor in a mile rate of 2-03.9, over Champagne Charlie and polemarker Chinski third a neck away.
The Garrard’s Horse and Hound Pace over 2180 metres provided the most exciting finish to the night going to Junortoun trainer Tayla Fellows’ Betterthancheddar-My Classical Belle four-year-old entire Classically Smooth.
The win gave Laugher three wins on the program.
Classically Smooth travelled sweetly all of the way before easing three wide on the final bend.
With several runners spread across the track halfway up the running and Hair Razor galloping under pressure, Classically Smooth did best to score by a head from Keepcrackingjokes after being extricated from four pegs in the back straight.
Shawami Lass was third, a half head away after using the sprint lane. The mile rate 2-03.9.
It was the last Kilmore meeting for some time as a new barn area is to be constructed, curtailing racing at the venue.
