KILMORE trots was highlighted by a driving treble to ace reinsman Greg Sugars last Thursday night, with the treble being Shades Of Miki, Give Dave A Wave, and Watching Over Us.
Shades Of Miki—an Always B Miki-Shadesoff colt on debut, trained at Henty across the Victorian border by Brooke McPherson—began fast from gate six to lead. Rated to perfection, he held too many guns for another first starter Fifty Seven Chevy, trained and driven by local Monique Burnett, which settled four pegs before angling to race outside the winner at the bell. Platinums Boy, which followed the winner from gate five, was third. The margins 11.2 by 8.5m in a mile rate of 1-59.
Five-year-old Sportswriter-Dancingwithsierra entire Give Dave A Wave, raced and trained by Melton’s Craig Hoban, led throughout from gate two in the 2180m MC Security Pace, recording a 2.1m margin in advance of Miki Mahoney (gate three) which raced outside him after swapping places with Machane Said (gate three) racing for the bell. Polemarker Ivana Bytheseaside, after trailing the winner, was third 2.1m away. The mile rate 2-00.9.
Bolinda trainer Vince Vallelonga’s 4YO Hes Watching-Island Dreamer entire Watching Over Us also led throughout from the pole to easily account for The Feeny Favourite (gate two) which trailed in a rate of 1-59.9. Treacherous Jewel (gate five-one/two–four wide home turn) was third a half head away.
Allendale owner/trainer Adam Stephens snared the opening race on the program with 21 start winner Wingate Guy, a 9YO gelded son of Union Guy and Alberts Belle. Driven by Connor Clarke, Wingate Guy, starting from gate three on the second line, settled four back in the moving line as heavily supported Bearhunter, starting inside the second line, angled off the back of the poleline leader Leave Your Hat On, also heavily backed, to assume control in the back straight on the first occasion.
Gaining a three wide trail home on the back of Luverboy in the last lap, Wingate Guy, making the final bend five wide, rattled home to prevail by 1.2m from Inside Leg (gate four, three pegs–one/two last lap) and Rockaway Beach (gate five–three wide to outside the leader then one/one) who was 1.1m away third in a race that changed over the concluding stages. The mile rate 1-59.9.
The 1690m Beraldo Coffee Pace went the way of Charlton trainer Tori Hutchins’ 6YO Guaranteed-Celestial Diamond’s gelding Celestial Zodiac. Driven by Blake Pace, Celestial Zodiac led all of the way from gate three to register a 2.1m victory over Our Mystery Bet, which trailed from gate two in a mile rate of 1-58.9. Regal Rock (one/one from the extreme draw) was third 1.5m back after easing three wide on the final bend.
The 1690m TAB Pace was a thriller with six horses crossing the wire with 2.5m between them, the winner being 6YOGuaranteed-Secret Bonus’ mare Guaranteed Secret for Axedale trainer Mick Carbone and superstar reinsman James Herbertson. Starting from gate two on the second line, Guaranteed Secret settled handy three back in the moving line as pole marker, 13YO gelding Celestial Daybreak, led from the pole.
Trailing Polly Peachum (three wide home turn and six wide on straightening), Guaranteed Secret extricated seven wide in the straight to gain the day by a half head in a tricky finish over Polly Peachum. Hand Writer, after trailing the leader and gaining a late split, was third 1.8m back. The mile rate 1-59.5.
Riddell co-trainers Chris Lang and Sonia Mahar brought up two wins in succession with 4YO Majestic Son-Gloriadon’s gelding Heza Gun in the C&M Build Group Trotters Mobile over 1690m, returning a mile rate of 2-00.4. With Chris in the sulky, Heza Gun, after being taken back from outside the front line, settled three back in the running line, moving a spot closer at the bell after Coconut Mickey in the breeze raced past the pacemaker Massif Central.
Easing three wide on the final bend, Heza Gun ran home best to score by 1.3m over a game Coconut Mickey, with April Sun (one/one) third 9.2m away.
Heavily backed and much travelled 8YO gelding Micton Mouse, a son of Stonebridge Regal and Maisie Mouse, was a convincing victor of the 1690m Momentum Gaming Concession Drivers Pace. Trained at Burrumbeet by David Barbetti and driven by Kyabram based George Chamouras, Micton Mouse began brilliantly from gate four to lead throughout and won by 4.1m in advance of Millys Prince (one/one), with a death seating Silver Domino holding third 1.9m back. The mile rate 2-03.3.
Kilmore will race again this Thursday.
