EVEN though there were only seven races on the program at Kilmore Trots last Thursday, it was a most competitive night racing wise.
The JC Windows Vicbred Voucher Mares Pace over 1690 metres opened the program and it was the first of three winners for the country’s leading reinsman Lexton’s James Herbertson when Smythes Creek trainer Nathan Cahir’s 6YO Sweet Lou-Almihata mare Nothing Sweeter was successful.
Given a charmed passage from gate four trailing the leader Mussel Shoals which flew away from outside the front line, Nothing Sweeter used the sprint lane to perfection when the opportunity came to prevail by 1.6 metres over the pacemaker which gave a sight. Miss Piggy Wiggy (three pegs from gate three) was third 1.5 metres back. The mile rate was 1:57.8.
Victory number two came courtesy of Sedgwick trainer Shane Hall’s 6YO Sebastian K-Hilltown Ashley who chalked up her tenth victory in 60 starts including 12 placings when taking the Kilmore Ford Trot Final over 2180 metres in a 2:04.2 mile rate. Settling five back in the running line from gate two on the second line as That’s Your Opinion (gate six) led easily before handing over to the roughie Sonnyboy (gate four) who after galloping away surged forward to assume control within a lap.
Gaining a three wide trail home in the last lap on the back of Maori Franklin (gate two) from three back in the running line, Montana Cheval angled wide on turning, running home well to register an easy 7.1 metre margin over That’s Your Opinion along the sprint lane, with Karbine (gate three second line) coming from a mile back for third 2.3 metres away.
Victory number three was Kialla trainer Bec Bartley’s 4YO Betterthancheddar-Victoria Bound mare Betathanaboughtone in the 2180 metre Happy Birthday Miss Emily 4YO and Older Pace.
Again, enjoying a sweet passage from the pole trailing Jindalea Hack (gate three), Betathanaboughtone was another to make use of the sprint lane to blouse the pacemaker by 2.5 metres in a 2:00.8 mile rate. Im The Wild One (four pegs from the extreme draw) gained inside runs to be third 11.7 metres back.
Eight-year-old Mach Three-Wyperfeld entire Ziegfeld gave Bec Bartley a training double when victorious in the Styles Construction Pace over 2180 metres. With Mark Pitt in the sulky, Ziegfeld raced by a large syndicate headed by breeder Shepparton’s John Hallam, settled three back in the moving line from the extreme draw and ran home stylishly three wide in the last lap to gain the day by a head from Anakin which had gone forward from outside the front line to lead. Oh Sweet Creature (one/three) from inside the second line a stablemate of the winner trailed him home to finish third 4.4 metres back. The mile rate was 1:59.7.
New South Wales (Menangle) trainer Rickie Alchin combined with Ross Payne to impressively capture the Picklebet 3YO Maiden Trot over 2180 metres with beautifully bred What The Hill-Tough Tussle gelding Tough Mate on debut.
Carrying the colours that saw the outstanding Smoken Up win a multitude of races, Tough Mate after a bad beginning settled at the tail of the field with Bettor Man flying away from outside the front line to lead. Going forward three wide racing for the bell, Tough Mate sprinted brilliantly in the back straight to lead on the final bend and score by 2.1 metres in a 2:05 mile rate, accounting for Liittle Miss Valley which followed the pacemaker from the pole, with Bettor Man holding third 3.1 metres back.
Young Huntly reinswoman Lauren White was victorious in the MC Labour Concessions Drivers Pace over 2180 metres aboard Derrinal trainer Glenn Bull’s Sunshine Beach-Dilinger Girl 7YO gelding Animado.
Given every opportunity to figure in the finish from three back in the moving line, Animado (gate four) trailed Written In Silk (gate three) one/one home three wide in the last lap and ran home best to prevail by 1.3 metres from Skyfall Benchmark which led from outside the front line, with Written In Silk a half head away third. The mile rate was 2:00.5. It was Lauren’s 16th winning drive.
The C&M Build Group Pace saw Kyabram part-owner/trainer/driver Brent Thomson produce a lovely Skyvalley-Zeeyana filly by the name of Skybella to blitz her rivals when making her race debut. Not rushed out from gate two, Skybella settled four back along the markers as Franc led easily from gate five before handing over to solo second liner Buckles For Berry.
Going forward with a rush to join the leader for the final circuit, Skybella crossed to assume control effortlessly on turning before coasting home by 5.6 metres in advance of Buckles For Berry and Aldebaran Susanne mid-field on the markers after a bad beginning from outside the front line finishing 5.9 metres back. The mile rate was 2:03.8.
Kilmore races again on Thursday, October 9.
