Sulky Snippets with Len Baker – March 17, 2026

KILMORE trots last Thursday (12/3) presented an interesting night of racing with mixed results throughout the evening.

Four-year-old American Ideal-Beach Garden entire Keayang Renegade trained at Ecklin South (Terang) by Marg and Paddy Lee landed the VHRC/Rich River Golf Club Vicbred Voucher Pace over 2180 metres to open the meeting.

Driven by Jason Lee, Keayang Renegade starting inside the second line settled five back along the markers, coming away from the inside in the first lap to lead up the outside division as Alta Bayamo beginning best from gate two piloted the field.

Cruising to the front in the back straight on the final occasion with the hot favourite Quatro Moth (gate three second line – one/four – three wide from the bell) giving chase, Keayang Renegade kicked away on turning to win in a breeze 20 metres in advance of Quatro Moth in a 1.58.9 mile rate.

Always A Showgirl (four back the markers after being restrained from outside the front line) used inside runs for third 10.1 metres back.

Kialla trainer/driver Cameron Maggs was successful in the VHRC/Mazzetti Painting Trotters Mobile over 1690 metres with 5YO Peak-Parallel Lines mare Straight To The Top which did exactly that by leading throughout from gate three to record a metre margin in a 2.01.2 mile rate over Kennywould (extreme draw – one/two – three wide trail last lap), with old timer Fling It Rainbow third 2.5 metres away after trailing the winner from the pole.

Bolinda trainer Brent Lilley combined with the stable’s Trent Larsen to capture the 2180 metre VHRC/Benstud Standardbreds Trotters Mobile with 5YO Love You-Missandel entire Kyvalley Michael.

Starting outside the front line, Kyvalley Michael was sent forward out wide on the track to take over from polemarker Just Abit Dusty and held too many guns at the finish (18.7 metres) in advance of a death-seating Distant Sun (gate six). Noble Count (gate five – one/one) ran his usual honest race for third 3.8 metres away. The mile rate was 2.01.9.

Modewarre trainer Ron Comben loves his harness racing (especially the trotters) and landed the VHRC/Benstud Standardbreds Trotters Mobile over 1690 metres with Acool Investment, a 7YO daughter of Father Patrick and Social Fireball.

With champion reinsman James Herbertson in the sulky, Acool Investment was trapped exposed from gate outside Kyvalley Jenny (gate three) before pressing forward to leadand defied all challengers to register a 11.1 metre victory over Kyvalley Jenny which used the sprint lane to no avail.

Tipple Time (one/three from outside the front line) was third 6 metres back after racing wide in the last lap. The mile rate was 2.01.1.

Local Kilmore trainer/driver Corey Bell trained and reined 8YO Western Terror-Sunday Rose gelding Northern Terror to victory in the VHRC/Renown Silverware Pace over 2180 metres much to the delight of owner Gaye Logie.

Settling three back in the running line from gate six as Bond Girl (gate five) crossed Midnite Desire (gate four), Northern Terror after easing three wide in the last lap kept on giving in the straight to come again and defeat a determined Theroux (one/three – five wide home turn) which took a narrow lead approaching the finish, with Midnite Desire using the sprint lane for third. The margins being a head by 3.3 metres in a mile rate of 2.01.8.

Allendale trainer Basil Dooley combined with very talented reinswoman Ewa Justice aboard in-form 10YO Live Or Die-Ayr Affair gelding Breathe Easy to score in the 1690 metre VHRC/Australian Pacing Gold Pace.

Given a sweet trip from the pole trailing the pacemaker Regal Rock (gate two), Ewa didn’t bother to wait for the sprint lane to come into play angling outside him on the final bend and drawing clear shortly after to greet the judge by 6.3 metres in 1.57.6. Regal Rock held second, with The Golden Hook third a half neck back after trailing the pair and using the sprint lane.

The VHRC/GBL Properties Pace over 1690 metres saw 3YO Always B Miki-Im Justforyou gelding Tappy an impressive winner.

Trained at Myrniong by Jess Tubbs, Tappy owned in Western Australia was first up since October last year and with ‘Herbie’ in the sulky was taken back to the rear from outside the front line as Flying Sparks (gate four) crossed the poleline pacemaker Hez Harrywho.

Latching to the back of Wingate Guy (gate six – one/two) three wide in the last lap for a nice ride home, Tappy strode clear effortlessly in the straight to register a four metre margin in a rate of 1.57.9 over Midnite Mojo (gate two) which switched down to the sprint lane on turning, with Flying Sparks holding third 1.4 metres away.

The VHRC/Black Horse Naturals Maiden Pace over 1690 metres went the way of Toolern Vale trainer Andy Gath’s Tall Dark Stranger-Sugarland filly Frosty Drop returning a 1.59.3 mile rate.

Driven by wife Kate, Frosty Drop led throughout from gate two recording a 2.4 metre margin from Keayang Alabama (gate three – four pegs) which raced outside her from the bell, with Looking From Above (gate four) third five metres back third after following the runner up home.

Kilmore races again on Thursday, March 26.