A NINE-RACE card greeted punters, drivers and trainers at Kilmore on Thursday, May 21.
Bolinda trainer Brent Lilley is always around the mark at Kilmore harness meetings and 4YO Majestic Son-Princess Kenny was victorious in the Coulter Legal 4YO & Older 2-3 wins Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres. Driven by James Herbertson, Kennys Son began very fast from gate four to lead and was untroubled to score by 3.9 metres in advance of Ahundredplus (three pegs from inside the second line) which eased away from the inside approaching the final bend, with Rymes (one/one from the extreme draw) third after shifting up the track on turning third 6.5 metres back. The mile rate was 2.03.1.
John Tormey’s Junortoun stable provided 4YO Rock N Roll Heaven-Saint Theory gelding King Saint to land the Beraldo Coffee Pace over 1690 metres. Driven by daughter Ellen, King Saint led throughout from gate three to register a 1.8 metre margin in a slick 1.56.8 over Soho Hudson (three wide to outside the winner from the extreme draw) which battled on gamely. The Golden Hook (gate three second line – one five – three wide trail last lap on the back of Morris Brown ahead of him) was third, eight metres back.
The 2180 metre Pacing For Pink 3YO Maiden Pace saw Harkness trainer Joe Pace and son Adrian combine with For A Reason-Princess Fly High gelding Hiltons Pride. Enjoying a cosy passage from gate four following the poleline leader Jansen, Hiltons Pride after extricating into the clear on turning ran home stylishly to gain the day by 8.9 metres from Heavenly Flyer (four pegs from gate two on the second line) and Jansen which held third 1-9 metres away. The mile rate was 2.02.2.
The very much in-form Byrneside stable of Lauren and Damian Wilson landed the Kilmore Ford Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres with Sammy Haller, a 4YO gelded son of Cardigan Boko and Its Only Words. Driven by Laura, Sammy Haller was sent forward from gate five to park outside the pacemaker Apex (gate four), proving much too strong for his rivals over the concluding stages to record a 1.9 metre margin in advance of Shaq The Anvil (gate three – one/two) and Deep Love (one/three) from the extreme draw. The mile rate was 2.05.5.
Astute Bannockburn horseman Geoff Webster provided 4YO Father Patrick-Aldebaran Aliza entire Aldebaran Abel to land the cash in the 1690 metre JC Windows Trotters Mobile. Driven by Herbertson, Aldebaran Abel was restrained from gate six as polemarker Piesridingshotgun showed his usual speed to lead from the pole, Aldebaran Abel after settling four back in the moving line was sent forward three wide in the last lap to sustain a long run and score by a metre from Buslin Brodie (gate three – three pegs) in a 2.01.7 mile rate. Quake Proof after trailing the pacemaker from inside the second line ran his usual honest race for third 3.4 metres back.
The first of two Concession Drivers races was the MC Labour Pace over 1690 metres with victory going to 4YO Jilliby Kung Fu-Jovial Jumo Lombo mare Elizajane in 1.59.9. Trained at Kialla by Tasmyn Potter and driven by Goulburn Valley based Grace Bilney who has a great record in these races, Elizajane led throughout from gate three to register a 4.5 metre margin over Colorado Girl (Hannah Parish – gate five) which followed the winner all the way. Polemarker My Kgari trained and driven by 63-year-old Warren Greene was third 3 metres back. The mile rate was 1.59.5.
The second – the ‘Picklebet Get Your Pickle On’ Pace over 2180 metres saw Derrinal trainer Glenn Bull successful with 9YO Western Terror-Paris Highlights mare Favouritehighlight who returned a mile rate of 2.05.9. Settling three back in the moving line for Hannah Parish, Favouritehighlight despite racing wide for the last lap raced to the front in the closing stages to prevail by 1.3 metres over Corey Bell’s Northern Terror (Riley Pace – three pegs from gate six) which flashed late after extricating wide in the straight. Miss Hermes with Grace Bilney in the sulky was third 2.6 metres away after racing exposed from gate four.
Sutton Grange trainer Ross Graham has a great record at Kilmore and five-year-old Tell All-Poets Glory gelding Whats The Tea gave ‘Herbie’ another victory on the night when saluting the judge in the C&M Build Group Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres. Taken back from gate five to settle three back in the moving line as Massive Central led from gate four, Whats The Tea was sent forward mid-race to park outside the leader and outstay his rivals, recording a 2.00.7 mile rate to defeat Bettor Man (one/one mid-race from the extreme draw) and Pro Hibition (four pegs from inside the second line) after using the sprint lane. The margins 4.7 by 2.8 metres.
Bolinda reinsman Chris Alford was successful aboard 4YO Sweet Lou-Aunty Daph gelding Theroux for Smythes Creek owner/trainer Nathan Cahir in the 2180 metre Arcadia Group Pace. Trapped wide from gate six, Alford had no option but to restrain to the rear as Archaa led from gate three for Wallan’s Chris Shinn. Commencing a forward move three wide in the last lap, Theroux ran home best to defeat the fast-finishing Mammals Reason (four pegs from a solo second line draw) by a half neck after angling wide in the straight. Fake Collection (gate five) used the sprint lane off the back of the leader for third 6.1 metres back. The mile rate was 2.01.7.
Kilmore races again on Thursday, June 4.