Sulky snippets

KILMORE’S ten-race program attracted a lot of attention last Thursday, with fancied runners winning most races.

Darraweit trainer/driver Lisa Miles provided 5YO Father Patrick-Happy Maori gelding Macho Maori to land the 2180-metre Jet Roofing Trotters Mobile when first up since October last year. Starting inside the second line, Macho Maori was quickly away from the markers to settle one/one as the speedy Fling It Rainbow took up his usual role at the head of affairs from gate four with Jungle Spider (gate three) caught in the open. The race was full of action as Whats The Tea outside the front line was restrained to near last before moving forward three wide racing for the bell to join the leader with a circuit to travel shuffling Macho Maori back a spot. Easing three wide in the last lap to go forward, Macho Maori wasn’t rushed to gradually make ground on the leaders and when asked to produce in the straight, put the leaders away to score nicely by 2.1 from Whats The Tea returning a 2.05.9 mile rate. Fling It Rainbow held third 9.1 metres back.

Raced by Fred Crews and family with Fred the breeder, Macho Maori has greeted the judge on six occasions from 67 outings which include 11 placings.

Sutton Grange trainer Ross Graham is a regular at most Kilmore meetings and Used To Me-Sonoko 5YO mare Dossier raced by twin brother Leigh, scored in the VHRC/Renown Silverware Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres. Given a glorious passage from gate two trailing the poleline pacemaker Picket Wire by James Herbertson which was kept honest by Link In Bio (gate five) which had gone forward from three back in the moving line mid-race to join her with the pair going head and head to the home turn, Dossier made full use of the sprint lane to prevail by 9.1 metres from a game Link In Bio who was relentless, with Picket Wire a head away third. The rate was 2.02.6. Dossier is a half-sister to Son Of Sonoko (Sundon), a winner of almost $300,000 in stakes and still racing.

Champion Bolinda reinsman Chris Alford combined with Derrinal trainer Glenn Bull to snare the VHRC/Black Horse Naturals Pace over 1690 metres with 5YO Gotta Go Cullect-Destiny Choice mare Fake Collection. Going forward from gate six to cross the leader Atomic Glory (gate five), Fake Collection although tackled from all directions on turning fought on doggedly to account for Dot Ball (gate two second line one/two) by 1.6 metres with Atomic Glory a half neck back third. The mile rate was 1.59.3.

The VHRC/Del Re National Foods Trotters Final was the feature of the night and a triumph for 76-year-old Balliang/Bacchus Marsh owner/trainer/driver Robert Young after 6YO Danny Bouchea-Kilmainham gelding Scar was successful in a mile rate of 2.03.1. Going forward from outside the front line after being trapped wide, Scar settled outside polemarker Kalarney Prince which gave the front running away to the favourite Keayang Brandy starting inside the second line for Girgarre trainer/driver Lisa Pitt which went forward with a rush three wide from five back in the moving line to cross and lead at the bell. Still travelling kindly on the final bend, Scar gave it all on straightening to gain the day by a half head from Keayang Brandy, with Old Dominion (gate two second line—three wide from the tail continuing a long run for third 4.6 metres back.

Lisa Pitt made amends for Keayang Brandy’s narrow defeat by winning the VHRC/GBL Properties 4YO and Older Maiden Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres with Jilliby Topgun, a 5YO What The Hill-Midnightatpinevale gelding raced, trained and driven by her. Settling three pegs from gate four, Keayang Topgun was put back a spot when Kyvalley Mariache after galloping at the start was sent forward by Chris Alford with a brilliant turn of speed to cross the polemarker and leader Aldebaran Sariah at the bell. Chasing determinedly as the home turn came into view, Jilliby Topgun finished at a great rate along the sprint lane to blouse the front runner Military Merit (one/three from the extreme draw which joined Kyvalley Mariache and head her on the final bend. The Knockout (gate six) after enjoying a cosy trip one/one was third 2.4 metres away after angling wide in the straight. The mile rate was 2.05.2.

Mitchellstown trainer/driver Kylie Sugars led throughout aboard 4YO Somebeachsomewhere-Major Missile mare Majors Creek in the 1690 metre VHRC/Benstud Standardbreds Pace, greeting the judge six metres in advance of a death-seating Altius from outside the front line who’s effort was outstanding. Bronski Royal (gate two—outside the leader—one/one last lap) was third 4.4 metres back. The mile rate was 1.58.4. 

Kialla trainer Mitchell Frost combined with Jordan Leedham aboard the heavily backed Always B Miki-Magic Moment Lombo gelding Magic Miki on debut in the Thank You Maxine Brain 3YO Maiden Pace over 1690 metres. Raced by Hobart based Juanita McKenzie. Leading out from gate two, Jordy was content to allow Colorado Girl (gate four with Chris Alford in the sulky to cross him shortly after the start to receive the run of the race. Using the sprint lane, Magic Miki put the race beyond doubt in a couple of strides to score most impressively by 4.4 metres from Colorado Girl which had no answer. Polemarker Julz Marie (three pegs) on debut was third 1.7 metres back after also using the sprint lane. The mile rate was 2.00.1.

Leading trainer Emma Stewart combined with Hamilton’s Jackie Barker to land the VHRC/Woodlands Stud Pace over 1690 metres with Always B Miki-Magic Moment Lombo–filly Ill Be Gone. Starting from the extreme draw, the filly went forward three wide from one/one in the last lap to register a 1.6 metre margin in a mile rate of 1.55.8 over Ideal Moth (gate seven) which led at the bell after being one/one. Day Two (gate six—four pegs) was third 9.9 metres back.

The VHRC/Mazzetti Painting 2YO Pace saw Allan McDonough victorious aboard his Stay Hungry-Ellenkate colt Affamato returning a mile rate of 1.58.9. Leading out from gate two, Affamato was eased to allow Go Easy On Me (gate seven) to cross at the bell. Using the sprint lane Affamoto ran home best to record a half neck margin over Go Easy On Me and Razor Horizon (gate four—one/one—three wide home turn) who was a neck away third.

Racing concluded with the VHRC/Australian Pacing Gold Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres taken out by Kilmore local Billy Milner’s part-owned and trained Armbro Variable-Motu Paulina 5YO mare The Night Queen giving James Herbertson his second winner for the night. Trailing the poleline leader Brigitte Royale from outside the front line with The Vicars Girl (gate five) in the open, The Night Queen was inconvenienced in the last lap after The Vicars Girl had crossed the weakening leader with Tiney outside her issuing a challenge. Eventually exiting a tight pocket to give chase prior to the final bend, The Night Queen finished full of running to score easily by 1.6 metres from The Vicars Girl, with Tiney third 1.5 metres back. The mile rate was 2.06.4.

One winner at Shepparton last week worthy of a mention was much travelled 9YO Mr Feelgood-Spirit Of Fun gelding Sea Hawk who chalked up his 21st victory in 191 outings by taking the 2190 metre Woodlands Stud Pace.Trained and driven by Kilmore-based Corey Bell who holds a share along with members of the Logie family, Sea Hawke settled four pegs from inside the second line as the lead changed several times with Rocket Me (gate seven), Clives Girl, (gate three) and A Lot Like Pendles (extreme draw) all heading the field at one stage. Gaining a sweet one/one trip home on the back of Big Rig Saint (gate six) in the last lap which led on turning, Sea Hawk finished best to prevail by 1.9 metres in a rate of 1.59.3. A Lot Like Pendles was third six metres back.

It was great to see steel grey Soho Tribeca-Tarzali filly Trottersmakemegrey victorious at Cranbourne last Sunday for Monegeetta trainer/driver David Miles as she is raced by David’s mother Laurel who along with late husband Marty who passed away last month bred her. Galloping wildly in the score up from the pole, Trottersmakemegrey was taken wide on the track hit her gait to give chase rather quickly even though she settled at the rear as locally trained mare Sovereign Silk (gate two) led for Samantha Gangell. The race was to change racing for the bell when Cameron Maggs sent the favourite Dance Fighter (gate three) on debut forward from one/one with a rush to assume control, with Trottersmakemegrey following her forward to join her before dropping to her back. Using the sprint lane on turning, Trottersmakemegrey surged to the front and raced away to record an impressive 6.8 metre margin over Military Merit (four pegs) which ran home late from the rear. Majestic Party Boy (gate four) one/one last lap was third. Dance Fighter was to gallop under pressure in the straight when beaten.

David was also successful with 4YO Hes Watching-Diamond Castle mare Looks Like Diamonds (gate two second line) in the 1720 Benstud Standarbrds Pace at Melton on Saturday. Going forward three wide solo from the tail in the last lap to join the almost unbackable favourite The Highlight Reel before dropping to his back approaching the final bend, Looks Like Diamonds was too tough at the finish, accounting for The Highlight Reel by 1.8 metres in a slick rate of 1.53.4. Jaccka Connor was 7.1 metres back in third place. Laurel is also listed in the ownership of the winner.

Kilmore race again on Thursday, August 28.