IT was back to Kilmore again on Thursday, July 30 with a neat little seven-race program.
Harkness father and son Joe and Blake Pace combined to open proceedings with 3YO For A Reason-Princess Fly High gelding Hiltons Spirit in the 2180-metre Roger Reeves Memorial Pace.
Bred and raced by Frank Cauchi and family, Hiltons Spirit enjoyed a cosy trip from gate four trailing Delightful Miki (gate three) which led. Using the sprint lane, Hiltons Spirit used the sprint lane to record a neck margin over the leader with Caties Son (extreme draw) running on late from mid-field in the running line third 3.1 metres back. The mile rate was 1.58.3.
Balliang trainer Tyrone Abela does a super job with his horses and 5YO Lucky Chucky-Itsgettingcalder gelding Distant Sun was successful in the Barry Alford Memorial Trotters Mobile over 1690 metres giving Blake Pace a double.
Settling three back in the running line from gate two on the second line as Ok Knox (gate five) led, Distant Sun was set alight three wide prior to the final bend and sustained the run to gain the day by 5.6 metres in advance of Ok Knox in a 1.58.4 mile rate. Polemarker Jessicas Story was third after trailing the pacemaker six metres away.
Heathcote father and son Jim and Sean O’Sullivan snared the Charles Bell Memorial Pace over 1690 metres with 10YO Courage Under Fire-Embellished gelding Standandeliver.
Trailing the leader Rennie Tin Tin who was to hand over to Very Tempting (gate six) outside him, Standandeliver came away from the markers to race exposed racing for the bell and in a two-horse war on turning with neither giving an inch, Standandeliver nosed out Very Tempting by a half head in a thrilling finish to return a mile rate of 1.58.8. Rennie Tin Tin was third 1.9 metres away.
Handy Louey Louey Louey-Telern Tilly 4YO gelding Joe Lou brought up two wins from his last three outings after a misdemeanour at his last attempt when taking the 1690 metre JP McKay Memorial Trotters Mobile.
Trained at Sutton Grange by Ross Graham for mother Merna Whelan who bred him, Joe Lou, driven by James Herbertson, settled three back along the markers from inside the second line as Alex Hurley’s Massive Central led from gate two. Never going round a runner, Joe Lou charged home along the sprint lane to defeat Money Talks (gate five) off a three wide trail running into the final bend, with Massive Central just failing to see out the trip third 4.9 metres back. The mile rate was 2.01.4.
The Allan Knight Memorial Maiden Pace over 1690 metres saw first starter Bay Of Fires, a 3YO colt by Downbytheseaside from Rosae on debut, victorious in a slick 1.55.9 mile rate.
Trained at Kialla by Wayne Potter and driven by daughter Tasmyn, Bay Of Fires began fast from gate five to lead before surrendering to the second elect Fantasy Flight (extreme draw) to receive the run of the race. Angling away from the back of the leader to join him on the final bend, Bay Of Fires ran home stylishly to record a 2.7 metre margin over Fantasy Flight, with polemarker Gadsby (three pegs) third 20.7 metres away.
Carlsruhe trainer/driver Jack Sullivan, who has experienced his best season ever, was successful with 8YO Majestic Son-Nicky Newky gelding Major Max in the Dick Barber Memorial Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres.
Trotting faultlessly one/one from gate six with Love Who spearing out to lead from outside the front line, Major Max was too strong over the concluding stages after moving outside him on the home turn, winning by a half neck in a 2.03.8 mile rate. Bet Bet Hotshot (four pegs from gate two) was third 16.6 metres away.
Ardmona trainer/driver Donna Castles has also had a great season to date and landed the 2180 metre Happy Birthday Gianna 4YO & Older Maiden Trotters Mobile with Volstead-Naked Majesty mare Aldebaran Mistique.
Beginning fast from gate three as the starter released the field, Aldebaran Mistique was allowed to bowl along at her leisure before giving her rivals the slip on turning to record a 9.6 metre margin from Mi Bow (gate six) which moved from the tail to race exposed at the bell. Dance With Roxy after trailing the winner from gate four was third 16.4 metres back.
Kilmore’s next meeting is Thursday, August 6.
