KILMORE Racing unveiled their all-new magnificent barn stabling complex when racing returned to Kilmore on Thursday, July 4, with plenty of both trots and racing followers keen to view the new construction which is outstanding, as are the surrounds. Congratulations to Kilmore Racing, especially Chief Executive Ben Murphy on this achievement!
The action was keen all through the night once the 10-race card got underway, with the opening race the Welcome Back Kilmore Pace over 2180m going to local Romsey trainer/driver Chris Svanosio aboard 3Y0 Our Sky Major-Vote For Me’s gelding Sky City raced by a big syndicate of stable clients. Despite racing exposed from gate four as Ferringno (gate two) led, Sky City was always travelling easily and surged to the front on the final bend with Ferringo going off stride poleaxing both Hay Miki and Wingate Guy who were trailing. Sassyola was lucky to miss the trouble and used the sprint lane for second, with Jilliby Typhoon third from mid-field in the moving line a head away. The mile rate 1-58.6.
It was Chris again in the winner’s stall after 3Y0 Andover Hall-Mason Magic’s gelding Aldebaran Marshall scored in the 2180m Georgina & Co Maiden Trotters Mobile, leading throughout from gate four to register a 3.3m victory in 2-03.5 from Exalted Lady (three pegs from gate three). Hillwinsome (one/two from the extreme draw) was third a half head away.
Sutton Grange trainer Ross Graham snared quinella in the 1690m Broadstead Kilmore Pace with 7Y0 Orlando Vici-The Sun Goddess’s gelding Self Exclusion, a winner of 11 races from 121 starts going into the event. Driven by Chris Alford, Self Exclusion led throughout from the pole to defeat Hair Razor (14 wins – one/three) by a half head in a thrilling finish. Alpha Crucis was third a head away after racing uncovered from gate four. The mile rate 1-59.3.
Ross was to also bring up a double after 6Y0 Tell All-Poets Glory’s gelding What’s The Tea snared a controversial 2180m O.K.R – 98.3 FM Trotters Mobile on protest by the stewards. Driven by James Herbertson, What’s The Tea (gate three) angled to be four back along the markers as stablemate Against The Bridle (gate seven) driven by Ross pressured the leader Double Dot (gate two) to assume control, leaving Massif Central (gate two second line) leading up the outside division with the favourite Atego Dawn (gate four) one/one. Shuffled back when Jansu (three pegs) dropped out, What’s The Tea’s task looked forlorn as Atego Dawn shifted down to the sprint lane to follow Against The Bridle into the straight and dashed away, appearing to have the race in his keeping. The complexion changed as the winning post came up with Atego Dawn being driven desperately with What’s The Tea coming from a mile back, gaining a split and finishing hard to just fail by a head. Kalarney Prince (one/two) was 2.1m back in third place. The stewards immediately inquired into the finish and Atego Dawn after running over marker pegs was relegated to third, with Kalarney Prince promoted to second. The mile rate 2-05.1.
Bolinda breeder/owner/trainer Brent Lilley combined with Chris Alford aboard Aldebaran Eagle-Say Your Pres’s filly Myheartbeatstrue to land the O’Brien Electrical 2Y0 Trotters Mobile over 2180m. Restrained to the rear from gate five as heavily backed Ezra Kai (gate six) worked hard to lead, Myheartsbeatstrue had moved to four pegs racing for the bell after both Majic Valley (gate seven) and Muskee (gate two) ahead of her had moved up to lead the outside lane. Coming away from the inside at the bell to be three back for the last lap, Myheartbeatstrue angled three wide, approaching the final bend and finishing with a wet sail to greet the judge by 2.9m in a rate of 2-06.4. Ezra Kai held second, with Majic Valley third 5.1m back.
Charlton trainer Michael Gadsden was successful with Sunraysia owned 5Y0 Bling It On-Angel In Flight’s gelding Bizzness Class in the 1690m DLO Plumbing Pace. With 18-year-old in-form Maryborough reinsman Luke Dunne in the sulky, Bizzness Class (gate two) enjoyed a cosy passage one/one with Sunstar flying out from gate four to lead. Going forward three wide into the home turn, Bizzness Class ran home nicely to prevail by 1.3m from Sunstar which gave a sight. Pablo Rocks was third 4.7m back after following the winner throughout. The mile rate 1-56.9.
Echuca trainer Wayne Lear used the services of Tayla French driving impeccably bred 4Y0 Orlando Vici-K D Muscles’s mare Vici Bloom to land the C & M Build Group Trotters Mobile over 1690m in a rate of 2-00.7. Spending most of the race in the open from outside the front line as Roi Du Soleil (gate six) led, Vici Bloom raced away in the last lap after Roi Du Soleil had galloped with both Buslin Brody (gate five) and Sunsup (gate two on the second line) running on three wide from mid-field. Holding a handy margin on turning, Vici Bloom scored by 4.8m from Sunsup, with Buslin Brody 2.3m back third after trying to keep with the winner on straightening.
Kyabram’s Brent Thomson is having a good run at present and was victorious with Country Rockstar, a daughter of Yankee Rockstar and Modern Society raced by parents Russ and Pauline in the Jet Roofing Mares Pace over 1690m. Driven by Brent, Country Rockstar was taken back from gate five to settle three back in the moving line as Spun Silver led from the pole before being crossed by the favourite I See Iris (gate four). Following Our True Colours (one/one) three wide into the final bend, Country Rockstar (four wide) raced to the front in the straight to score by 2.2m in advance of Tooby Gold (four back) which gained a late split through the field halfway up the running. Our True Colours was a respectable third 8.5m back. The mile rate 2-00.4.
Wallan trainer Ruth Shinn and son Chris were successful with Righteously, a 9Y0 daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven and Awesomely, in the 1690m MC Labour Mares Pace, much to the delight of owner/breeders Justin and Stephanie O’Brien, both long-time stable supporters. Given a cosy trip one/one from gate four as the odds-on favourite Calypso Mistress led from gate five, Righteously, after easing three wide into the final bend, ran home out wide to gain the day by 2.5m in a 2-00.9 mile rate from a death seating Shesabluechip (gate seven), with Markleigh Caz (five pegs) running on late for third 1.3m back. It was Righteously’s 11th victory in 175 outings which include 35 placings.
Echuca trainer Susan Hunter’s Rock N Roll Heaven-Lethal Kiss’s gelding Hes Lethal first up since August last year was a tough victor of the Carlton & United Breweries 3Y0 Maiden Pace over 2180m giving ‘Herbie’ a driving double. Going forward mid-race from gate four to park outside the poleline pacemaker Cyclone Bella, Hes Lethal was much too classy for his rivals, racing clear prior to the home turn to record an impressive 4.9m margin in advance of Miki Mark which followed him most of the way. Villarock (one/four – four wide home turn) shifted to the sprint lane on turning for third 7.5m back. The mile rate 2-03.1.
Kilmore will race again Thursday, July 18, and almost every second Thursday of the month (alternating with Ballarat) for the rest of the season.
