FOLLOWING the hype of Kilmore Racing’s biggest night of the year the previous Saturday, an interesting night of harness racing was held last Thursday, February 12 featuring eight races.
It was great to see Little River owners and co-trainers Danny and Gill Norris in the winners’ stall following the victory of 7YO Creatine-Desert Spur gelding Desert Assassin in the 1690 metre O’Briens Electrical Trotters Mobile.
Driven by James Herbertson, Desert Assassin began very fast from gate five to lead and rated to perfection, never looked like losing to greet the judge by 10.1 metres from Buslin Brody which trailed from the pole using the sprint lane to no avail.
Noble Count after going forward three wide from the extreme draw battled on gamely for third 3.6 metres away. It was Desert Assassin’s 4th success (17 placings) in 45 outings. The mile rate was 1.57.9.
Long Forest trainer Andy Gath and stable employee Jordan Leedham combined to land the Coulter Legal Pace over 2180 metres with 4YO Always B Miki-Yankee Showgirl mare Always A Showgirl in a two minute mile rate.
Starting from outside the front line, Always A Showgirl wasted no time in going forward to lead and just lasted by a half head from Binalong Mate (mid-field and three wide last lap from gate two second line). Wazowski (gate three second line) was third 7.3 metres back after following the runner up home.
Derrinal trainer Glenn Bull loves racing at Kilmore and provided the quinella in the 1690 metre Styles Construction Concession Drivers Pace over 1690 metres when 26 time race winner and 33 times placed in 180 outings American Ideal-Rocky Bay Lass 11YO gelding Regal Rock defeated Miss Piggy Wiggy in a mile rate of 1.59.
Settling four back in the moving line from gate two on the second row, Regal Rock trailed Miss Piggy Wiggy (one/two from inside the second line) forward three wide in the last lap after the pacemaker Zu Hoffen (gate four) gave ground rapidly.
Running home best to nab Miss Piggy Wiggy in the closing stages, Regal Rock scored by a metre. Are Weasley (outside front line) led into the straight after facing the breeze from the bell to be third 1.3 metres back.
The 2180 metre Kilmore Ford Trotters Mobile saw Bolinda duo Brent Lilley (trainer and Tristan Larsen (driver) victorious with 5YO My High Expectations-Our Dolly Would gelding Kennywould.
Enjoying a sweet one/one passage from inside the second line as Aldebaran Marcus (gate four) led before being crossed by Aldebaran Buddy (gate five) outside him, Kennywould after easing three wide on turning ran home strongly to record a runaway 12 metre margin over Aldebaran Marcus and Saint Eyes (one/two) who was 11.9 metres away third in a 2.00.5 mile rate.
First starter Pricilla, a filly by Poster Boy from Kalahari Queen bred and raced by Macedon Ranges district’s well known resident Geoff Dodd was a good winner of the Picklebet ‘Get Your Pickle On’ Vicbred Voucher 3YO Maiden over 1690 metres.
Driven by Ross Payne for Romsey trainer Chris Svanosio, Pricilla (gate five) was given a dream passage and after easing three wide on the final bend, raced away to greet the judge four metres in advance of the pacemaker Keayang Alabama (gate two) also on debut in a mile rate of 1.57.4. Tryx Vixen (gate four) was third a nose away after racing exposed.
The Ule Hoof Oil Concession Drivers Pace went the way of Ross Creek trainer Stephen Clark’s home bred Rock N Roll Heaven-Isabella Delacour 5YO gelding Monsieur Flamel who registered her 14th victory at start 94.
Driven by Monegeetta based Nick Beale, Monsieur Flamel led throughout from gate six to easily account for Feel The Rain (gate two second line – one/one and Spirit Of Sahara (gate six) one/three. The margins 2 by 4.2 metres in a mile rate of 2.02.
There was a rough result in the MC Labour Trotters Mobile when 6YO Kvintet Avenger-Our Little Lil gelding Patnwill bred and raced by Heathcote’s Mannix family, trained by Michael Mannix and driven by Ashley Manton led throughout from gate six at odds of $151.
Bowling along at his leisure, Patnwill couldn’t be caught, scoring by 1.5 metres from Gunsen Rosie (gate two – one/one – three wide home turn) and polemarker Playa Del Carmen which trailed the winner finishing a head back. The mile rate 2-03.
It was another rough result in the C&M Build Group Trotters Discretionary Handicap over 2660 metres after Teesdale trainer/driver Paul Warnock’s 7YO Lawman-Packed Up Early gelding Im Above The Law raced by the Warnock family and friends scored in identical fashion paying odds of $20.90, leaving punters in disbelief following the last two races on the card.
Jumping straight to the front from the pole as the tapes released, Im Above The Law was rated a treat and gave plenty on turning to defeat Tripod (barrier three) which trailed moving off the inside to challenge on the final bend by 2.3 metres in a mile rate of 2.05.1. Thirty metre backmarker Johns Boy (four pegs – one/one bell – wide home turn) was third 4.4 metres back.
Kilmore races again on February 26.
