CHARLIE AND DARREN SALUTE
KILMORE harness raced last Thursday with a nine event card.
The night was highlighted by 85-year-old Whittlesea Octogenarian co-owner/trainer Charlie Farrugia and grandson driver Darren Zahra’s home bred and raced Lincoln Royal-Mind Dancer gelding Royal Edard winning the 1690m Carlton & United Breweries Pace. Enjoying a sweet passage from gate four trailing Pinnacle Hope which led from outside the front line, Royal Edard, after angling away from the markers on turning, was too strong over the concluding stages for the pacemaker, scoring by 1.7m in a mile rate of 1-58.6. Home And Dry (one/two) was third 4.3m back. It was Royal Edard’s first success since winning at Gunbower in December 2023.
Sutton Grange breeder/owner/trainer Clive Henderson’s 5YO Sportswriter-Dance Of Fire gelding Edwarde Grange chalked up his seventh success at start 42 when greeting the judge in the C & M Build Group Pace over 1690m.
Driven by ‘ace’ reinsman James Herbertson, Edwarde Grange (gate three) possied behind the leader Cheerstolou, which burnt across the face of the field from gate five before being relegated to three pegs after My Way in the open from gate two assumed control. Moving to be one/one approaching the home turn, Edwarde Grange finished his race off well after angling wide in the straight to record a 2.5m margin over Nakula (four wide last lap from the tail), with Ozzie Sunshine which raced exposed from outside the front line, narrowly taking over on the home turn and battling away strongly for third 5.1m away. The mile rate a slick 1-54.
The Beraldo Coffee 3YO Maiden Pace over 1690m saw Bettors Delight-Ghadas Delight gelding The Wise Guy victorious when making his race debut. Trained at Murchison North by Shane Sanderson and driven by son Ryan, The Wise Guy settled one/one from gate three on the second line as Fifty Seven Chevy went like one to lead from outside the front line, giving his rivals something to chase for local Monique Burnett. Dropping to trail the leader in the last lap, The Wise Guy ran home stylishly to prevail by 6m in a rate of 1-56.6 from Fifty Seven Chevy, who’s win is not too far off. Raging hot favourite Apollo Storm, which galloped in the first lap when three back in the moving line and tailing out, made up many yards for third 13.1m away.
Leichardt trainer Scott Rains combined with Maryborough’s Louis Emerson to land the Jet Roofing Concession Drivers Pace over 2180m with 4YO Betting Line-Dee Emm Dancer gelding Kalkadoon Dreaming. Restrained to the rear from outside the front line, Kalkadoon Dreaming, letting rip four wide in the last lap to be outside the pacemaker Lollipop, which had crossed Micton Mouse before the final bend, ran home best to gain the day, accounting for a game Lollipop who was super by 2.6m. Really Smartie (three wide last lap from mid-field) was third 13m away. The mile rate 2-01.2.
The O’Brien Electrical Pace over 2180m went the way of Cranbourne trainer/driver Scott Ewen’s 7YO mare Blazin Heaven, a daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven and Good Girl Becqui who chalked up her 14th success in 112 outings, returning a mile rate of 2-01. Beginning fast from gate four, along with Monsieur Flamel inside her leading momentarily, Blazin Heaven was able to cross and lead, turning into the back straight on the first occasion, and held too many guns for Monsieur Flamel along the sprint lane by 2.1m, which was given every opportunity to run her down. Direct Command, after being eased to the tail from outside the front line, went forward mid-race to park outside the winner and battled on gamely for third 3.1m away.
Another Cranbourne winner on the night was 4YO Rock N Roll Heaven-Narree Rose mare Love A Bell for trainer Rick Cashman and partners in the 2180m MC Security Pace. Driven by Chris Alford, Love A Bell enjoyed a sweet one/one passage from gate four as Sunstar led from gate two with Ubetta Knot (gate three) caught exposed. Easing three wide on turning, Love A Belle rallied late to prevail by a half head from Sunstar who refused to give in, with Ubetta Knot giving her all after the tough trip for third a head away in a thrilling finish. The mile rate 1-59.7.
The Buds & Branches Florist Pace over 2180m went the way of Derrinal trainer/driver Glen Bull’s 6YO Pet Rock-Vansumic gelding Michen Roy in a rate of 2-01. Starting solo on the second line, Michen Roy settled three back in the moving line as polemarker Ruby Wingate began fast to easily retail the front running, with tough grinder Forgone Conclusion (gate three) outside her, favourite Our Bella Lucia (gate five one/one), and Michen Roy one/two. Moving three wide in the back straight as Forgone Conclusion took care of the leader, Michen Roy ran on best out wide to gain the day from Our Bella Lucia in the centre by a metre, with Apache Plume running on late after following the winner all the way third 4.3m back.
Kialla owner/trainer Mitchell Frost used the services of co-Kialla based Tasmyn Potter to land the 2180m TAB & Older Maiden Pace aboard cleverly named 4YO Vincent-Come Dance With Me mare Savoy Ballroom. Racing roughly from gate two as the start was affected, Savoy Ballroom settled three back in the moving line with Muselet (gate four) leading from Here Comes Lenny (gate five), and With In Reason easing away from inside the second line to possie one/two. Set alight mid-race with a great turn of speed to lead approaching the bell, Savoy Ballroom couldn’t be caught to run out a 5.1m victory over Muselet and With In Reason who was 1.5m away in third place. The mile rate 2-01.6.
The Momentum Gaming Pace over 2180m concluded the night and it was Tasmyn Potter who was again victorious, combining with Junortoun trainer Michelle Phillips and former Sunraysia 7YO Sunshine Beach-Maise Reign mare Martha Lavinia, a winner of 17 races. Despite racing uncovered from gate five outside polemarker Archaa, Martha Lavinia, after taking a slender lead on the home turn, just lasted by a head from That Majya Look, which followed her throughout from gate three, with Archaa holding down third 1.4m away. The mile rate 2-00.2.
Kilmore will race again on Thursday, February 27.
