A massive eleven race card was held at Kilmore last Thursday, September 12, with interesting racing all through the night. Daylesford trainer-driver Anne-Maree Conroy would have been relieved when 7Y0 Pegasus Spur-Sueno’s gelding Dels Destiny recorded his first success since March 2021 by taking the 2180m O’Brian Electrical Trotters Mobile. Lightly raced Dels Destiny was making only his 65th race appearance (seven wins) and began better than usual from the pole following the mandatory scratching of original polemarker inside him Montana Cheval, who had caused two false starts. With noted speedster Silent Reverie away quickly from gate three to lead, Dels Destiny was able to trail the leader enjoying a soft trip with Just Dudley (gate two) exposed in the breeze. Using the sprint lane on turning, Dels Destiny ran home best to defeat Tougher (gate four—one/two—three wide last lap) by a neck after running home late. Silent Reverie failed to run out the trip finishing third 4.7m back. The mile rate 2-02.8.
Elliminyt (Colac) trainer Daniel Laird combined with Hamilton’s Jackie Barker to land the Buds and Branches Florist Pace over 1690m with ultra consistent 8Y0 Shadyshark Hanover-Graces Beach’s gelding Goodtime Stryker to open the program. Showing his usual gate speed from barrier two, Goodtime Stryker, rated a treat, showed his rivals a clean pair of heels to win by 1.5m from Talknplay (gate three on the second line—three wide last lap) from three back, with Treacheroustimes (gate four) who raced uncovered, dropping down to the sprint lane on turning for third 1.2m away. The mile rate 1-57.9.
Mitchell Park (Ballarat) trainer Sam Barker snared the MC Security Pace over 2180m with Remi Lou, a 3Y0 filly by Sweet Lou from Roshami driven by Allan McDonough. Going forward three wide from gate five to cross polemarker Jilliby Tidalwave, Remi Lou controlled the race to run out a big 19.6m victor over Art On Fire (one/three—three wide last lap) in a rate of 1-57.8. The trotter Im Denny Too used inside runs from four pegs to be third 12.1m away.
Handy 7Y0 Julius Caesar-Island Beach’s gelding Island Caesar, now in the care of Sunbury trainer Freddy Taiba, was successful in the 1690m Broadstead Kilmore Pace. Driven by Ewa Justice, Island Caesar (gate two) was driven hard to try and lead but was crossed by Spun Silver (gate five) approaching the bell before immediately moving around her and was never headed, reaching the wire 2.3m in advance of Shady Dancer (gate three) along the sprint lane from three pegs, with Major Drama (gate seven) coming from the tail off a three wide trail last lap third a head away. The mile rate 1-59.9.
Ross Creek trainer Stephen Clarke has 7Y0 Art Major-Askmenow’s gelding Forgone Conclusion racing in great heart, chalking up his 13th success (five this season) and 13 overall when leading throughout from gate four with son Connor in the bike to land the 1690m Jet Roofing Pace. Never looking in any danger, Forgone Conclusion, who is as tough as teak, scored by 1.3m from Black Tuxedo (one/one—three wide home turn) and Tophat Johny who trailed the winner from gate three) finishing 5.4m away. The mile rate 1-58.2.
The 1690m Beraldo Coffee Pace saw Jack Laugher add another winner to his week’s tally when the John Torney (Charlton) trained 6Y0 Western Terror-Thor Foot’s gelding Terroroan, in the care of Jack Lauger, led throughout from gate two, accounting for Joeys Hangover who trailed from the pole in 2-00.8. Conspirator was third 3.1m away after following the pair from inside the second line 3.1m away.
Percydale owner-trainer John Hurrell’s 5Y0 Majestic Son-Rosalie Bay’s gelding Tubs Now Slim has hit top form in recent times registering his fourth success in 26 outings when greeting the judge in the C and M Build Group Trotters Mobile over 2180m. Badly away from the extreme draw to settle well back as Floating Mountain flew away from outside the front line to lead, Tubs Now Slim, driven by regular reinswoman Annalise Scott, had most of the field ahead of him five back in the moving line before weaving a passage in-between runners to be one/two on the final bend after Manda Kyvalley, mid-field from gate two on the second line, sprinted brilliantly mid race to cross the leader. Shifting away from the inside in the last lap, allowing Floating Mountain to take an inside run and lead on the final bend, Manda Kyvalley came again with Tubs Now Slim poised to pounce, and that he did after angling five wide in the straight to race clear over the concluding stages to record a 3.2m margin over Manda Kyvalley, with Floating Mountain third 1.1m back. The mile rate 2-03.9.
Sutton Grange trainer Ross Graham and ace reinsman James Herbertson finished the night on a high note providing three of the last four winners. Used To Me-Sonoko’s mare Dossier at start 14 snared the 2180m Hip Pocket Workwear Trotters Mobile in a rate of 2-02.9. Bred and raced by twin brother Leigh, Dossier settled three back in the moving line from the extreme draw as polemarker and favourite Rubys Dream led. After a bad beginning, Ess Jay Hollywood was set alight mid race by Cameron Maggs in a lightning move to assume control racing for the bell, with Dossier also going forward to race exposed from the bell and outstaying his rivals to record a strong 3.1m margin over Kyvalley Paint (gate four—one/two last lap—three wide home turn). Kalarney Prince (four pegs last lap) ran on late out wide for third 13.6m away.
Revitalised 10-year-old Bos Folly-Internationalyfoxy’s gelding Hair Razor, raced by partner Emily Holmes, chalked up his 15th success in 148 outings by taking the 1690m Carlton and United Breweries Pace. Going forward from gate five to park outside the well supported local Topzavski (gate four), Hair Razor strode to the front, approaching the final bend to win in a breeze 9.4m clear of Topzavski, who battled on well in a mile rate of 2-00.8. Icanmotor three wide last lap from four back in the running line was third 3.5m away.
The TAB Trotters Mobile over 2180m going the way of 6Y0 Tell All-Poets Glory’s gelding Whats The Tea was also raced by Emily. Going forward from gate five to park outside polemarker Massif Central, ‘Herbie’ controlled the race from the breeze to lead on the home turn and show plenty of tenacity to score by 9.6m in a mile rate of 2-05.2 from local hope Tetra along the sprint lane from four pegs with Jansu (three wide last lap from the rear) using inside runs for third 3.1m back.
Well supported 3-year-old American Ideal-Brighty Valentine’s gelding Handler, trained at Toolern Vale by Tayla Nicholson and driven by husband Zac Phillips, landed the Georgina and Co O-2 LTW Pace over 218m. Galloping away from the pole as the start was affected, it appeared that Handler had thrown away his chances, but regained his gate quickly to possie three pegs after My Way and Chris Alford led from gate five. Coming away from the inside to be one/one in the last lap, Handler angled three wide running into the home and dashed clear shortly after to greet the judge by an easy 14.9m from My Way who offered no resistance. Blue Miki (gate two), after trailing the leader, was third a nose away. The mile rate 2-00.9.
Kilmore races again Friday, September 27, which is cup night – write it in your diary.
Kilmore Xtra
Monday: Yarra Valley
Kilmore trainer George Schembri combined with ‘Herbie’ aboard the family owned Hurrikane Kingcole-Lace Nation’s 6Y0 mare Paigethehurrikane to land the Revive2survive Pace over 1650m, leading all of the way from gate three to record an easy 7.5m margin in advance of old timer River Patrol (death seat—one/one) from outside the front line and Kitch Macray, a stablemate of the winner, who was 9.6m away from four pegs. The mile rate 1-57.9.
Another area winner was owner-trainer Julie Mifsud after 6Y0 Somebeachsomwhere- Mollys Luck Star rig Shallow Beach, driven by Ian McMahon, snared the 2150m Air Fusion Pace. Going forward from gate two on the second line to race outside the pacemaker Our True Colours at the bell, Shallow Beach kept on giving to record a strong 3m margin over Harley Blue (three pegs) and Our True Colours who held third 3.8m away. The mile rate 2-00.1.
Wednesday: Shepparton
Kilmore breeder-owner-trainer Charlene Gusman’s 5Y0 Sweet Lou-Shes Norma Jean’s gelding Hes Charlies Angel brought up victory number 10 in 55 outings when winning the 2150m Stonemans Village IGA and Liquor Strathdale Pace. With Chris Alford in the sulky, Hes Charlies Angel was restrained from gate six to settle four back in the moving line as Alby Two Chains led from gate four. Easing three wide hitting the back straight, Hes Charlies Angel sprinted like a gazelle to race clear prior to the home turn and score from Alby Two Chains and Courageous Saint off a three wide trail on the back of Arggghhh, who was most disappointing after trying to follow the winner home. The margins 1.7 by 1.1m in a mile rate of 1-56.4.
