LEN Baker is off on a well-deserved holiday, so Michael Thompson takes over the Sulky Snippets for a little bit.
Kilmore put together a seven-race card in wet conditions on Thursday, August 6, and it was a night for the short-pricers.
The opening race was the Tellurian Wines Pace, with Dreamtime Nala taking the early running throughout the first lap, holding out from outsider Tooby Gold.
A frenetic finish saw Dot Ball aggressively swing into the sprint lane, with the field spreading six-wide at one stage. Six-year-old Dot Ball timed its gutsy move to perfection, taking a second win in a row for driver Liam Older and trainer Ross Graham, pipping Standandeliver by a head, with Mammals Blaze third. The mile rate was 2.01.6.
The C&M Build Group Pace was a clinical performance from warm-favourite Archaa, scoring a fourth win in six starts with Christopher Shinn in control for trainer Ruth Shinn.
The seven-year-old essentially cruised around from start to finish, despite getting a mid-race challenge from Miss Piggy Wiggy at the bell, and had all the answers, winning from Talisker Skipper, who made a late-race run, and Miss Piggy Wiggy in third. The mile rate was 1.59.6.
The MC Labour Trot promised a close race between Pass The Salt and Mevia, with Mevia taking an early lead.
Hung out to dry one out/one wide, three-year-old Pass The Salt would put in a determined run first up after a spell, however, making a big move on the back straight and put together an impressive victory for driver/trainer Chris Svanosio, with Sebs Gal putting in a good run for second, following Pass The Salt all the way. Just Me And You put in a big effort on the back straight and was rewarded with third, with a mid-race lull proving costly for Mevia in fourth. The mile rate was 2.05.3.
The last leg of the early quaddie was the Beraldo Coffee Trot, and despite getting a mid-race hurry up from Brooklyngotcourage and Playa Del Carmen, eight-year-old Love Who, driven by Daryl Douglas and trained by Stephen Clarke, held firm in the sprint lane and timed its run well to take victory in a bold effort, breaking through for a second win at the track.
Brooklyngotcourage tired and ran second, with favourite Money Talks making a late run for third, despite never really being in the running. The mile rate was 2.04.5.
The Broadstead Kilmore Maiden Pace turned out to be a battle between three driver/trainers, and with favourite Captain Milo badly stuck at the pegs for much of the race, it soon became a battle of wits between Tarzina and The Sparkler, with The Sparkler stalking for much of the race.
Into the front straight, three-year-old The Sparkler had a great run of pace for driver/trainer David Barbetti to take its first triumph, proving too strong for Tarzina, with Misty Always running third. The mile rate was 2.03.6.
The La Dimora Retirement Resort Pace was taylor-made for a fast-starting Hurrikane Dusty, but despite sitting pretty for most of the race, the seven-year-old had to really dig in to put together the win after leading from the start for driver Brent Murphy and trainer R G Brown.
Ninedolla Toastie put together a terrific run, using the sprint lane wisely to finish second as an outsider, while Give Fred A Clap finished third after a good finish on the outside. The mile rate was 1.57.3.
The final race of the night was the Picklebet ‘Get Your Pickle On’ Trot, and again, the pole lane was the place to be, as it was for much of the night.
Ezra Kai and Sebastians Waiting spread-eagled the field from the start to give the field a hurry-up, and it was the latter who ambushed the fast-starting Ezra Kai to take over the running at the end of the back straight, before holding out Distant Sun to give the four-year-old its second win at the track in as many starts for driver Ross Payne and trainer Chris Svanosio.
Distant Sun finished second, while Karbine finished in third. The mile rate was 2.01.7.
There will be more action at Kilmore on Thursday, August 13 with a 10-race card on the agenda.