AN eight-race card greeted punters on Thursday, August 13 at Kilmore, and in a night that tested the patience of those in attendance, it was largely an outsiders’ night.
The OKR FM Pace opened up proceedings, with five-year-old mare Shazza Love getting up from the outside lane, making her move perfectly five-wide to score victory by a length for driver Chris Alford and trainer Alison Alford. Wicked Mitzi was second, six-wide at the finish, while last-start winner Archaa was third. The mile rate was 1.57.2.
As the lights started to take hold, the second race, the Next Payments Vicbred Voucher Trot, saw an upset, with Sovereign Tiger at $15 odds holding out a fierce challenge from Zarski from the sprint lane to win by a head.
Driven by Nathan Jack for trainer Chris Hunter, Sovereign Jack ran a great race and the eight-year-old bay gelding timed its run well. Zarski was second, and I Dream Of Millie ran third in a close finish. The mile rate was 2.00.3.
The third race saw a return to the favourites getting up, with Hez Harrywho taking out the Broadstead Kilmore Pace.
Always sitting comfortably with James Herbertson in control and trained by John Newberry, Hez Harrywho used the sprint lane superbly to take the win from Blue Miki and Emjay Jazz by a length. The mile rate was 1.57.3.
The Coulter Legal Trot was another one for the exotics, with Buslin Brody at $10 odds upsetting the field.
Buslin Brody, driven by Joe Attard and trained by Tony Xiriha, utilised a wide-open sprint lane to fly home and take the chocolates, with Straight To Thetop finishing second and Majestic Monarch also coming home strong in third. The mile rate was 2.01.4.
Herbie took home his second win of the night on the strongly backed Champagnes, trained by Nick Youngson in the Kilmore Ford Trot.
Leading strongly, Champagnes was simply dominant on the home stretch to win by 13 metres, with Attracted second and Aldebaran Marcus third. The mile rate was an even 2.00.
Beau Beca continued the good run for the roughies in the MC Labour 3YO Maiden Pace, with Ewa Justice driving to a solid two-and-a-half length victory for James Elliott.
Beau Beca finished very strongly, with Ashante Cadman finishing second after trying the sprint lane, and Amada Villma finished third. The mile rate was 1.59.1.
Herbie made it three wins on the night by overhauling Massif Central aboard Fling It Rainbow to take out the C&M Build Group Trot for the seventh race.
Fling It Rainbow stormed home to take victory by a length and a half for Herbie and trainer Albert Cefai, with Bet Bet Hotshot also coming on strong to take second. Massif Central still finished third, with the mile rate 2.03.3.
Herbie completed a sensational night with his fourth win in the Picklebet ‘Get Your Pickle On’ 3YO Maiden Trot, with Jet Plane holding out the challenge of Uncle Bill to win at short odds.
Trained by Jess Tubbs, Jet Plane always had enough in reserve in what was realistically a two-horse race, with Uncle Bill keeping tabs all the way. Dundea finished third, with the mile rate 2.02.8.
Racing returns to action on August 20 with a seven-race card.
