AN even eight-race card on a cold wintery night at Kilmore last Thursday, May 7 saw some interesting racing and Bolinda/Darraweit trainer Alexandra Hurley’s speedy 7YO Peak-Bras Dhonneur gelding Massif Central bred and raced by the Hurley family chalked up his fourth victory in 58 outings by taking the 1690 metre Broadstead Kilmore Trotters Mobile.
With regular reinsman Triston Larsen in the sulky, Massif Central showed his usual gate speed from barrier five to lead virtually throughout and refusing to give in scored by 1.4 metres in a punishing finish over Paya Del Carmen which trailed from the pole. The mile rate was 2.03.
Little Tedey (four pegs from inside the second line) flashed home along the sprint lane for third a nose away. His winning margins are never great, however his will to defy all challengers are.
No doubt Kilmore must be Derrinal (Heathcote) trainer/driver Glen Bull’s favourite track as he rarely ever goes home from the venue without a winner and on this occasion, it was bold front runner Treacherous Times who snared the 1690 metre OKRFM Pace.
Brilliantly away from gate five, Treacherous Times led all of the way to register a 1.4 metres margin over a death-seating Freak Out which stuck on well in a 1.58.1 mile rate. Midnite Desire (three pegs from inside the second line) used the sprint lane for third a head away.
Veteran Doreen breeder/owner/trainer John Yeomans combined with Kialla’s Tasmyn Potter to land the Pacing For Pink Month Of May 4YO & Older Maiden Pace over 2180 metres with Hello Possums, a 4YO daughter of Art Major and Red Hot Rita.
Settling at the tail of the field from the extreme draw, Diamondontherocks led from gate two for David Miles after causing a false start at the first attempt.
Going forward three wide in the last lap, Hello Possums gained a three wide trail home in the last lap on the back of Loubell (one/two from gate three second line) and Woodville Silver (one/three from gate four second line) before moving into the race swiftly three wide on the final bend and finishing best to prevail by a head from Woodville Flyer in a 2.00.5 mile rate. Diamondontherocks was third a neck away.
Monegeetta trainer/driver David Miles snared the MC Labour 4YO & Older Maiden Trotters Mobile in a 2.01.8 mile rate with Victree Vic, a 4Y0 gelded son of Volstead and Sweet Pretense.
Settling on the back of the leader Desert Royal (gate three), Victree Vic was taken away from the inside to race uncovered at the bell to outstay his rivals and score from Gym Queen (four pegs from gate two on the second line) – one/one last lap which chased hard to go down by three metres. Desert Royale held third albeit 25.6 metres away.
The 2180 metre Kilmore Ford Trotters Mobile saw Arcadia South trainer Jamie Egan successful with 6YO Majestic Son-Catchya Maya mare Paris Jamilla.
Raced by Jamie and partner Bec Dudley, Paris Jamilla driven by Nathan Jack settled three back in the moving line from gate two on the second line as Straight To The Top led from gate five.
Moving up stylishly three-wide in the last lap, Paris Jamilla appeared to lose momentum and drop out before rallying on turning after gaining a late split to gain the day by a neck over Calabasas (extreme draw) and Majestic Charma which had raced uncovered from gate four finishing a half neck back in a thrilling finish. The mile rate was 2.03.1.
Long-time Cranbourne-based Jayne Davies who has prepared hundreds of winners over the years including the 1995 (Christchurch) Inter Dominion winner Golden Reign in partnership with Noel Alexander, was victorious in the 2180 metre Coulter Legal Pace with lightly raced Tall Dark Stranger-Vouvray Beach colt Sols Me Name.
Raced by long time stable client John McLeish, Sols Me Name, driven by James Herbertson, was having his seventh race start and after settling three back in the moving line from inside the second row was set alight racing for the bell to park outside the pacemaker Zoom Zoom Boom (gate four).
Cruising to the front running into the final bend, Sols Me Name coasted to the wire 5.9 metres in advance of A Lot Like Jeannie (gate six) which ran home nicely from mid-field. Zoom Zoom Boom held third 1.5 metres away. The mile rate was 1.58.8.
Marong co-trainers Terry and Jacinta-Allan Gange raced and trained 8YO Changeover-Jokeka gelding Bullapark Beno to land the C&M Build Group Trotters Mobile over 1690 metres giving ‘Herbie’ another winner on the program.
Starting solo on the second line, Bullapark Beno was off and running at the bell to race exposed outside the speedy leader Piesridingshotgun (gate five) for the last lap before doing his best to defeat the pacemaker by a neck in a 2.00.1 mile rate. Dels Destiny three pegs from outside the front line ran home along the sprint lane for third 1.6 metres back.
The 1690 metre Picklebet “Get Your Pickle On” Trotters Mobile concluded the evening with Junortoun trainer/driver Ashley Manton successful aboard the family’s home bred 6YO Majestic Son-Prettygirl Lassie gelding Prettyboy Harry.
Going forward from outside the front line to cross The Preacher (gate four) which had crossed Hillwinsome (gate two), Prettyboy Harry who relishes the front running role ran his rivals ragged to greet the judge 4.6 metres clear of The Preacher in a 2.01 mile rate. Hillwinsome (three pegs) held third 2.9 metres back.
Kilmore races again on May 21.