Sulky Snippets by Len Baker: April 15, 2025

KILMORE conducted a huge 10 race program of entertaining racing on Thursday April 10 with four winners from the outlying area scoring.

Monegeetta trainer/driver David Miles was victorious with 5Y0 Downbytheseaside-Soho New York gelding Rockaway Beach in the 1690 metre TAB Pace, leading throughout from gate two, accounting for Lenard Ess from outside the front line which was eased to near last before racing wide in the last lap to go down by 1.4 metres. Inside Leg (gate five) shifted from mid-field in the running line to the sprint lane in the straight for third a half neck away in a blanket finish for the minor placing. The mile rate 1-55.2.

Riddell co-trainers Chris Lang and Sonia Mahar’s nice 3Y0 Skyvalley-Sosoclassy colt Sky Spirit (gate two) led all of the way in the Broadstead Kilmore Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres. Driven by Chris, Sky Spirit was given an easy time before kicking clear on turning to greet the judge by 10.7 metres untouched from No Money No Honey which had vacated a one/two passage to race outside the winner at the bell. Kimberleys Tree (gate four) was a game third 10.1 metres back for Nick Beale after racing uncovered. The mile rate 2-02.8.

Kilmore’s Corey Bell combined with George Chamouras to capture the MC Security Concession Drivers Pace over 2180 metres with 7Y0 Northern Terror-Sunday Rose gelding Northern Terror returning a 2-03 mile rate. Trailing the well fancied poleline leader Rocket Me from inside the second line, Northern Terror made full use of the sprint lane to record an easy 8.7 metre margin from Feel The Buzz starting outside the front line which angled to three pegs before also using the sprint lane. Rocket Me weakened to be third 1.9 metres back.

Darraweit trainer Lisa Miles was successful with promising 4Y0 Aldebaran Eagle-Sashas Dream 4Y0 mare Winnies Dream in the 1690 metre Buds & Branches Florist Trotters Mobile. Driven by James Herbertson, Winnies Dream a winner of three from eleven going into the race was first up since December and after beginning fast from gate two, led throughout to register a metre victory over polemarker Constant (four pegs) which ran home strongly along the sprint lane. Sovereign Tiger came from the tail on turning for third 3.1 metres back. The mile rate 1-59.4.

The Carlton & United Breweries Pace over 1690 metres gave part-owner Mark Delre of the Famiglia Racing Syndicate along with Ian Caruana and Vince Dicocco a birthday present when 3Y0 Bling It On-Zindal gelding Mighty Bling scored in a mile rate of 1-55.7. Trained at Toolern Vale by Vince, Mighty Bling with Jack Laugher aboard possied three back in the moving line from gate two as polemarker Segui Le Stella led. Taken four wide in the last lap, Mighty Bling finished his race off well to blouse the pacemaker which had kicked away in the straight looking the winner before being nabbed by both Mighty Bling and Im All Business down the outside fence off a four wide trail last lap. The margins a head by a half head in a thrilling finish.

Nobody loves their harness racing more than South Oakleigh trainer Alan Ratnasingham who was successful with honest 8Y0 Heston Blue Chip-Illawong Princess mare Illawong Phoenix in the Jet Roofing Pace over 2180 metres. With Bendigo’s Ellen Tormey in the sulky, Illawong Phoenix flew away from gate four to lead and rated to perfection, defied all challengers to record a 2.4 metre margin (her 11^thin 159 outings) from Kimchi (gate three second line) from five back in the running line. Marako Shark (four back from gate two second line) was third a nose away. The mile rate 2-00.6.

Charlton based trainer Zac Steenhuis combined with James Herbertson to land the 1690 metre C&M Build Group 4Y0 & Older Maiden Pace with 4Y0 Roll With Joe-Rinjani mare Lombok returning a 1-57.3 mile rate. Raced by a large syndicate, Lombok making her seventh appearance at the races did it tough, but did it well after racing exposed from gate five to blouse the leader Peppercorn Barry by 1.4 metres, with Howsweetthesound 1.8 metres back third after trailing the front runner from gate three.

Ardmona duo Donna Castles (trainer) and Doc Wilson (driver) were successful with 4Y0 Always B Miki-Somesorta Philtra mare Sneaky Philtra in the 1690 metre O’Brien Electrical 4Y0 & Older Maiden Pace. Given a sweet passage from gate two trailing polemarker Keeping It Simple, Sneaky Philtra eased off the leaders back in the home straight and ran on best to just get there by a head from Rollwithharty (four pegs – one/two home turn from gate two on the second line) which flashed late to just fail in a 1-58.9 mile rate.Keeping It Simple held third 4 metres back.

Kilmore races again Thursday, April 24.