A NEAT night of harness racing was conducted at Kilmore on Thursday, July 17.
The highlight was a driving double to Bendigo’s Ellen Tormey who was successful aboard father John’s 11YO Rock N Roll Heaven-Full Pleasure gelding Letsrockletsroll in the 1690-metre Broadstead Kilmore Pace and Strathfieldsaye trainer Julie Douglas’ 3Y0 Poster Boy-Teamenup gelding Big Red Saint in the 2180 metre Coulter Legal Pace.
Letsrockletsroll, who last greeted the judge at Melton in January last year, flew away from gate five to lead throughout and after being rated a treat, scored by 3.8 metres in a rate of 1-54.7 from Helluva (three pegs from inside the second line and Pas Guarantee (four pegs from outside the front line) who was a head away third.
Three-year-old Poster Boy-Teamenup gelding Big Rig Saint coming off a third at Melton last week enjoyed a cosy trip three pegs from gate two on the second line and ran on best to prevail by a neck from Vincent Grange (gate three) who made several moves ending up one/one before angling three wide on the home turn and dashing clear only to be grabbed on the wire. Polemarker Shotinthedark behind leader three pegs was third 5.7 metres back.
It was also a training double to John Tormey following the victory of 8YO Somebeachsomewhere-My Tupelo Honey gelding Tupelo Beach in the JC Windows Pace over 2180 metres. Driven by Dunnstown’s Brent Murphy, Tupelo Beach, whose latest success had been at Shepparton in May 2024, enjoyed a cosy trip three pegs from gate four on the second line as polemarker Chasing The Wind led. Angling three wide on turning, Tupelo Beach had the last shot at the leaders after Shaq which trailed the pacemaker eased away from the markers on turning to race clear but was nabbed on the wire by a head in the last stride giving John the quinella. Chasing The Wind held third 5.5 metres back. The mile rate was 1.59.9.
It was a local victory to the 2180 metre Picklebet Pace with the Corey Bell trained and driven 6Y0 Mr Feelgood-Spirit Of Fun gelding Sea Hawke successful. Raced by Corey, partner Allanah Logie and her mother Gaye Logie, Sea Hawke received a sweet passage three pegs from the pole and after a slight check approaching the final bend, regained his composure to produce a nice turn of speed out wide and score a runaway 4.1 metre victory from Archaa (gate two second line – one/three to race uncovered in the last lap). Well supported ex-Riverina mare Camnat (gate four second line – three wide from near last to join the leader Rolling Remona (gate three) racing for the bell and taking over before the final bend held down third a half head away. The mile rate 2-01.3. Hopefully the victory gave Allanah a kick along as she is recovering from a nasty track accident and will take time to recover.
The Jet Roofing Trotters Mobile saw Romsey trainer Chris Svanosio presently competing in the Queensland Inter Dominion Series combine with staff member Taylor Yule to capture the race with Aldebaran Eagle-Im Princess Sophie 4YO mare Keayang Brandy. Going forward from gate three on the second line to race outside the pacemaker Silver Spoon (gate two second line) after Brown Eyed Kate (gate seven) and Midnite Muscle (gate six) had turns of leading, Keayang Brandy was too tough at the business end, greeting the judge by 4.9 metres from Kyvalley Jetstream which was slowly away from the extreme draw before running home late. Silver Spoon was third 4.1 metres back. The mile rate was 2.05.1.
Ballan trainer Dianne Giles and reinswoman daughter Leilani Justice snared the Momentum Gaming Pace over 1690 metres with honest 5YO Devilish Smile-Atom Bomb Bell entire Freak Out returning a 2.00.4 mile rate. Settling three back in the moving line from gate three as Alex Hurley’s Spun Silver led from gate two, Freak Out, after going forward three wide in the last lap, was just a little too strong on the wire to gain the day by 1.5 metres. Very Tempting (gate five) after racing uncovered held on for third 6.5 metres back.
The $9,000 VSTA Trotters Cup Final over 2150 metres went the way of Daylesford trainer Anne-Maree Conroy’s 7YO Majestic Son-Lady MacKendon gelding Mielicki who has most likely enjoyed one of his best seasons. Driven as usual by brother Glenn, Mielicki stepped swiftly from barrier four to lead before handing over to heat winner Watch And Act (10m) on the first turn to receive the run of the race. With many runs coming in the last lap, Mielicki looked flat approaching the final bend losing ground, but rallied shortly after to run on best and defeat the 30m backmarker Johns Boy (three wide to join the leader mid-race) by a nose in a tricky finish. Polemarker Buslin Brody (three pegs) flashed home along the sprint lane for third a head away and probably would have won in another stride. The sensationally backed stablemate of the winner Constant (barrier two) $8.50 to run at $3.60 had no luck from three back in the moving line to finish fourth 4.6 metres back in a mile rate of 2.05.4.
The Styles Construction 2YO Maiden Pace over 1690 metres saw Monegeetta trainer David Miles’ Rock N Roll Heaven-The Perfect Mona filly Sumthin Else a tough victor. With Ararat’s Mick Bellman in the sulky, Sumthin Else making her third race appearance sat parked for most of the trip from outside the front line shadowing Julie Douglas’ Ozzie Pearl (gate two). Pushed wider in the straight as the leader shifted ground and Alalia (behind leader) made use of the sprint lane, Sumthin Else refused to give in and fought on strongly to gain the day by a half neck, with Shotinthedark a neck away third. The mile rate was 2.00.5.
At Bendigo on Wednesday, Wallan’s Shinn family Noel, Ruth and Chris provided an impressive winner in home bred Always B Miki-Machli gelding Kutani to take the 2150 metre The Douglas Deck 3Y0 Maiden Pace. Making his sixth race appearance, Kutani trained by Ruth and driven by Chris, Kutani trapped wide from outside the front line went forward to park outside the heavily supported pacemaker The Postmaster (gate two) before outstaying his rivals to register a 1.7 metre margin over Whenimready (gate three) which followed him throughout. Just Like Nugget (one/three from gate four) was third a half head away off a three wide trail last lap on the back of the well backed first starter Kualight which broke under pressure when challenging out wide in the straight. The mile rate was 2.01.4.
The next Kilmore meeting will be held on Thursday, July 31.
