AN EVEN nine event card of harness racing was held at Kilmore last Thursday (April 16) with some interesting results throughout the night.
Mangalore part-owner/trainer Col Duncan, 78, who has enjoyed plenty of success over the years landed the opening race on the card – the 1690 metre Happy Birthday Miss Macki Pace with handy home bred 4Y0 Always B Miki-Dearest mare Tivoli.
Driven by Josh Duggan, Tivoli was trapped three wide from gate six as Ima Charma (gate five) began brilliantly to lead, but was happy to hand over to Tivoli in the back straight on the first occasion. Travelling kindly, Tivoli gave her rivals the slip on turning to account for Lorimermajor (gate two – three pegs) untouched by 4.5 metres, returning a mile rate of 1-57.2. Ima Charma was third 2.9 metres away.
Sutton Grange trainer Ross Graham is usually in the money at most Kilmore meetings and was victorious with 6Y0 Used To Me-Sonoko mare Dossier in the La Dimora Retirement Resort Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres. Restrained from gate three at the start to settle four back in the running line after polemarker Kyvalley Anthony was driven hard to retain the inside running driver Ellen Tormey commencing a forward move three wide in the last lap with Dossier sustaining a long run to record a tough 1.6 metre margin over Dhoni Trouble (gate four – one/two), with Kyvalley Anthony third 2.4 metres back. The mile rate was 2-01.9.
Byrneside trainer Damian Wilson used the services of nomadic reinsman Leigh Sutton aboard 5Y0 Sportswriter-Kateeshar gelding Byrneside Boom to register a good win IN the JC Windows Pace over 2180 metres. Slowly away from inside the second line, Byrnside Boom quickly gathered momentum weaving in-between horses to settle three back in the moving line with Enable Me (gate three) leading out before being crossed by Treacheroustimes (gate four) after being trapped wide. Sent forward three wide racing for the bell to park outside the pacemaker, Byrneside Boom took a narrow lead on the final bend and held a margin all the way up the running to greet the judge by a half head only from Metro Memory (one/three – three wide trail following Blue Miki (gate two second line – one two) home which held third. The margin was a half head by a half head in a thrilling finish. The mile rate 2-00.9.
Lemnos duo Russell and Nathan Jack’s smart 4Y0 Andover Hall-I Am Who I Am gelding Just As I Am recorded his 4th success in 13 outings by taking the Charlie Bezzini Memorial Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres in a 2-02.8 mile rate, leading throughout from gate five to defeat Kiss At Midnight (gate four) which trailed by five metres. Prettyboy Harry (four pegs from inside the second line) ran on late for third a head away.
Riddell owner/trainer Freddy Spiteri brought up two wins in a row with 8Y0 gelding Te Amo, a gelded son of Love You and I Am Majestic in the Coulter Legal Trotters Mobile over 1690 metres. Given every opportunity one/one from gate four by Blake Pace with the heavily supported Waikare Adrienna (gate six) in the open ahead of him which strode past the leader Right Of Reply prior to the home turn, Te Amo followed her forward and finished best to blouse her by a half head right on the wire. Polemarker Emily Meagan after trailing the leader was third 6.3 metres away. The mile rate was 2-00.7.
The 2180 metre MC Labour Mares Trotters Mobile went the way of Arcadia South trainer Jamie Egan’s 6Y0 Majestic Son-Catchya Maya mare Paris Camilla raced and bred by Lyndon Turner giving Nathan Jack a double. Starting outside the front line, Paris Jamilla was taken back to settle four back along the markers as the short priced favourite Straight To The Top did exactly that for Tasmyn Potter from gate five. Easing away from the inside to face the open an east 7.4 metre victory 7.4 for the last lap, Paris Jamilla strode effortlessly to the front on the home turn to score by 3.8 metres in a 2-03.3 mile rate from Ahundredplus (gate four) which sprouted wings from six pegs. Tipple Time (seven pegs from the extreme draw) after going forward to race exposed at the bell and one/one for the last lap was third 3.4 metres away.
Kialla father-and-daughter Wayne and Tasmyn Potter landed the C&M Build Group Fillies & Mares Maiden Pace over 1690 metres with Waysam, a filly by Captain Crunch from Juliette Bromac. Settled on the back of the leader Captains Rush which flew away from gate four only to break gear shortly after and be retired, Waysam was raCed to perfection to record an easy 7.4 metre ahead of Heavenly Nikky (gate two) which trailed and Cobargo Milly who followed the pair from gate three was 7.5 metres back third. The mile rate was two minutes even.
Charlton trainer John Tormey’s Junortoun stable provided Capt Midnight-Valstrepo filly Midnight Diva to land the Picklebebet ‘Get Your Pickle On’ Fillies & Mares Maiden Pace over 1690 metres. Driven by daughter Ellen who also brought up a double on the night, Midnight Diva after trailing the poleline leader SewHopeful from gate four, used the sprint lane to prevail by a neck from Helenshope (gate five – four pegs – outside the leader last lap) who was courageous finishing 3 metres back. The mile rate 1-59.1.
The Beraldo Coffee 3Y0 Maiden Trotters Mobile over 1690 metres concluded the night which saw Monegeetta trainer/driver David Miles successful with Heir Jaurdon, a daughter of Angus Hall and Jaurdon who was making her third race appearance. Given a sweet trip from gate six following the pacemaker and first starter Grainger (gate two), Heir Jaurdon raced away to record a big 11.5 metre margin in a 2-04.7 mile rate over Grainger and War Dan Phoenix, a stablemate of the winner which broke after the start from gate three to settle five back along the markers.
ADDITIONS
Congratulations were in order for hard-working Darraweit Guim/Bolinda part-owner/trainer Alexandra Hurley after very reliable lightly raced home bred 7Y0 Peak-Bras Dhonneur gelding Massif Central was successful in the 1720-metre Melton City Council Trotters Mobile at Melton Entertainment Park on Wednesday. With regular reinsman Tristan Larsen in the sulky, Massif Central (gate two) enjoyed a cosy passage on the back of the leader Christmas Babe which showed her customary speed from gate six. Travelling smoothly approaching the final bend with runs coming from all directions on turning, Massif Central dashed along the sprint lane in the closing stages to record a head margin over Allwatfunjingles (one/one from gate four) and Charlie Walker (gate two second line) which had made a long run to be outside the leader racing for the bell before receiving cover from Kyvalley Misty (extreme draw – three wide from last to join Christmas Babe at the bell, a fighting third 2.3 metres away. The mile rate was 2-01.6.
Also on the program, Kilmore’s Julie Mifsud was victorious with 8Y0 Peak-Mother Nature gelding Little Tedey in the Logical Staffing Solutions Trotters Mobile over 2240 metres his first since July 23, 2023, when winning at Kilmore. Driven by Ian McMahon, Little Tedey settled three pegs after starting solo on the second line with Kalarney Prince (gate two) leading. Angling away from the inside prior to the last bend, Little Tedey made the home turn three and four wide and motored to the wire to greet the judge easily by 5.7 metres returning a 2-04.7 mile rate in advance of Kalarney Prince which ran his usual honest race. Nuclear Attitude (one/one from gate five – three wide last lap) was third 5.9 metres away. It was a family quinella as Kalarney Prince is trained by Paul Weidenbach the husband of Rosie Mifsud.
Kilmore race again on Thursday, May 7.
