BOLINDA-BASED Tristan Larsen was the star at last Thursday night’s terrific Kilmore nine-event program after winning the final two races on the program and was deserved of the ’Drive of the Night’ – the winners being Bolinda trained 4YO Love You-One Over Da Sky gelding Love Me Again in the C&M Build Trotters Mobile and Darraweit trained 7YO Peak-Bras Dhonneur gelding Massive Central the Picklebet ‘Get Your Pickle On’ Trotters Mobile, both races over the sprint journey of 1690 metres.
Love Me Again, bred by Kiwi Lex Williams and late wife Heather, raced by a large syndicate of well-known trotting folk and trained by ‘boss’ Brent Lilley was given a sweet trip one/one from gate three as old timer Fling It Rainbow crossed Jessicas Story which showed great speed from outside the front line.
In a tightly bunched field on turning, Love Me Again appeared to be full of running with nowhere to go before gaining a late split just short of the wire to gain the day by a head from Just Me And You (gate four – one/two – three wide last lap). Aldebaran Marcus (gate six) after racing exposed was 1.4 metres away third. The mile rate was 2.03.4.
Massive Central (gate six) trained by Alex Hurley for her and family members trailed the poleline leader Bet Bet Hotshot enjoying a cosy passage before angling off the markers to be outside the leader on turning and in a punishing finish prevailed by a half neck from Little Tedey (solo second line – three pegs) along the sprint lane, with Bet Bet Hotshot holding third 5 metres back. The mile rate 2.03.5.
Dunnstown duo David and Brent Murphy combined to snare the MC Labour Vicbred Voucher Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres with 4YO Majestic Son-Lindarella 4Y0 mare Buckles For Berry returning a 2.04.8 mile rate.
Raced by Erin, John and Shane Murphy, Buckles For Berry (gate three) was given the run of the race by Brent trailing the leader Major Max (outside front line), gaining an inside passage approaching the final bend to take over on turning. Holding a narrow margin all the way up the running, Buckles For Berry kept giving to greet the judge by a head from the fast finishing African Gala (four pegs) along the sprint lane, with Major Max holding third 8.4 metres back.
The 2180 metre O’Briens Electrical Vicbred Voucher 4YO and Older Maiden Pace saw Kialla trainer Bec Bartley successful with 4Y0 For A Reason-Lucilla Franco gelding My Mate Ace.
First up since December, My Mate Ace driven by Liam Older was trapped wide from outside the front line having no option but to restrain to the rear as Sheer Me led from gate four. There was carnage racing for the bell when Jamala Khan (gate two) trailing the leader galloped knocking over Loubell (three pegs) and causing interference to most of the field following with My Mate Ace having to angle very wide.
After the chain reaction My Mate Ace after going forward managed to slot into a one position as Beryl Boots (extreme draw (one/one) dropped to the back of the pacemaker. Easing three-wide on the home turn, My Mate Ace ran home best to score by 14.3 metres from Beryls Boots, with Sheer Me holding third 2.7 metres back. The mile rate was 2.03.
Of course, the highlight of the meeting were the five heats of the Vicbred Super Series for both sexes over 2180 metres, all of which were taken out by Cardigan trainer Emma Stewart and partner Clayton Tonkin.
Heat One for mares went to The Art Of Success (Art Major-Joe Lou Leonie) driven by Mark Pitt which led most of the way from gate two on the second line to defeat Wicked Confession and Happily in a 1.57.8-mile rate.
Heat Two saw Let Her Roll (Sweet Lou-Rocknroll Magic) for James Herbertson outstay her rivals after racing parked from the bell to account for the leader Soho Americano and Miss Ari (three pegs) in 1.56.5.
Heat One for Entires and Geldings went to Poster Boy-Fususi gelding The Last Trip (Taylor Ford) which after an early lightning move led most of the way to defeat Forty Love and Coastal Drive in 1.55.4.
Heat Two saw Rock N Roll Heaven-Illustrator entire Fairplay (Mark Pitt) lead most of the way to greet the judge ahead of New Shuffle and Apollostorm in 1.56.7.
Heat Three was taken out by The Storm Inside-Caitlyn Clarke entire I Am The Storm (Mark Pitt) which raced exposed from the bell to account for Thunderfire and Seathestars in 1.57.3.
For a more detailed summary of these heats go to www.harness.org.au/news/results
Kilmore races again this Wednesday.
