A NINE-RACE card was on the agenda at Kilmore on Thursday, August 27.
The first race, in a delightful setting sun, saw Enjoy Life, for trainer Emma Stewart and driver Mark Pitt, do enough to take the APG Vicbred Super Series for three-year-old colts and geldings first heat by a length.
Enjoy Life took command as the field rounded the bend and made enough ground to hold out a charging Dusty Philtra in second, while Lowrider finished third. The mile rate was 1.57.2.
The second heat of the APG Vicbred Super Series saw a magical result for trainer Michael Stanley, who took a 1-2, while also driving the winner, Soho Trump.
The favourite controlled the pace throughout and had a terrific battle with stablemate Soho Park Avenue.
Luvtobeuptome, who eventually finished third, briefly challenged Soho Trump, but eventually faded, while Soho Park Avenue eventually finished second after coming back late.
Soho Trump saluted in a mile rate of 1.56.9.
Stanley’s terrific night continued in the third heat of the Super Series in what was an outstanding finish, with Soho Charmer taking victory by half a head.
It was a thrilling battle along the front straight, with Neptunite making hay along the sprint lane after finding a gap, while Rewatch also looked to challenge, but Soho Charmer fought exceptionally hard to get the money.
Neptunite eventually finished second, while Rewatch finished third, with the mile rate a slick 1.56 flat.
A great head-to-head battle also played out in the fourth heat, with Le Cardinal and Major Blitz going stride for stride down the front straight, before the favourite eventually wore down Major Blitz by winning by a half-head for trainer Matthew Craven and driver Amy Day.
It appeared running down the outside was more favourable than the sprint lane, as all four winners had been able to utilize the middle lanes in winning so far.
It was a terrific mile rate of 1.55.2 for Le Cardinal.
The fifth heat was a lot more straightforward for The Niteshift, and trainer/driver Luke McCarthy, who dominated the race to eventually score comfortably.
The Niteshift was largely untroubled as the pace picked up and did it easily from This Is Heaven and Decode, scoring by about two and a half lengths.
The mile rate threatened the track record, with the rate a stunning 1.54.6.
It was business as usual for Cardigan Dan in the sixth heat, answering all the challenges of Mount Barker Boy in a straight fight around the track.
Cardigan Dan had plenty in reserve to eventually win by just under a length for trainer Emma Stewart and driver Mark Pitt, with Stewart’s stablemate just behind and River Storm in third.
The mile rate was 1.57.4
After that, it was the three-year-old fillies turn, and the result was no different for the Stewart/Pitt combination, winning that one in a canter through Bettor Beach.
Bettor Beach controlled the pace exceptionally well and zoomed away on the front straight to eventually win by a solid four lengths or so from Pre Eminant, while Keayang Passion finished third. The mile rate was 1.58.1.
The pick of the races was arguably the eighth race, and the second heat for the fillies.
Quatro Moth looked a winner halfway down the front straight, but three horses, led by Heavenly Flyer, charged down the leader, and eventually, the Graham Lyon-trained and Liam Older-driven bay filly got the chocolates, with Isthisthereallife finishing second, while Quatro Moth still scored third.
The mile rate was 1.58.6.
The last race also produced an awesome finish, with long-time leader Alot Like Jeannie controlling the pace.
However, Enola used the sprint lane beautifully to take the lead and looked a winner for much of the front straight, before trainer/driver Laura Wilson found something to get Alot Like Jeannie back in front, winning by a short half-head.
Enola finished second, while My Bettor Half finished third, in a mile-rate of 1.58.2.
The action continues at Kilmore on Thursday, September 3, with a big card on the agenda.