AN even 10-race card of harness racing was held at Kilmore last Thursday, September 24, highlighted by two $15,000 consolations of both the APG 4YO Vicbred Super Series Trot Silver for 4YO trotting mares over 2180 metres and 4YO Silver for entires and geldings over the same journey – the winners being No Money Honey, Ideal Moth and Muskee.
No Money Honey, a daughter of Volstead and Egee Money trained at the Lee property in Ecklin South by Antti Ruokonen and driven by Glen Craven, had crossed Aldebaran Mistique (gate three) from gate five in the straight on the first occasion and was never headed, scoring by an easy 17.6 metres from Aldebaran Mystique and polemarker Alectrona (three pegs) who was 9 metres back. The mile rate was 2.00.3.
Ideal Moth (American Ideal-Flying Moth) was given a sweet passage one/one from gate three as Sharp Interest (gate two) led. Angling wide on turning, Ideal Moth bred and raced by Maryborough’s Len & Irene Parker in a slugging finish prevailed by 1.5 metres in advance of Bringsusjoy (gate six – three pegs along the sprint lane) returning a 1.57.1 mile rate. Tasmanian Shes Allaboutluv (gate five) was third after racing exposed a half neck back after leading into the straight.
Love You-Our Sunny Rose gelding Muskee (extreme draw) trained at Toolern Vale by John Justice and driven by daughter Ewa, bred and raced by long time stable client Graeme Riley, raced exposed in the early stages before striding past the leader Just As I Am which flew away from gate four relegating the favourite Claudys Hero (gate two) to three pegs.
Although tackled strongly by Claudys Hero, which had moved away from the markers prior to the final bend only to go off stride losing all chance, Muskee fought on gamely to score by eight metres in a slow 2.02.5 mile rate from Just As I Am and Kyvalley Jagger (four pegs from the pole) who was a head away in third place.
The biggest and most unbelievable victory on the night was 5YO Art Major-Gozo Beach gelding Gozo Major in the 1690 metre Kilmore Ford Pace for Plumpton owner/trainer Paul Grech, who has been involved in the sport for a number of years winning 102 races since the 1981/82 season.
Starting from the extreme draw, Gozo Major settled near last from the extreme draw before rushing forward three wide approaching the bell to join the leader Sir Candy Cloud (gate four).
Dropping out sharply prior to the home turn looking a spent force as the Sir Candy Cloud gave a kick when challenged by Rocknroll Rambo which had raced exposed looking to have the race to themselves, along came Gozo Major after being six wide on the home turn to go into another gear and motor to the wire out very wide at 100 miles an hour to blouse the pair by a half head from Rocknroll Rambo and Sir Candy Cloud who was a half neck away third. The mile rate was 1.58.9.
Dunnstown duo David Murphy and son Brent brought up victory number seven with very much in-form Always B Miki-Lillian Grey Gelding Blue Miki for Footscray owner/breeder Alan Faux by taking the 1690 metre Tellurian Wines Pace, leading throughout from gate two in a 1.57.3 mile rate from polemarker Wingate Guy which trailed using the sprint lane to go down by a head. Our Mystery Bet was third a neck away after racing exposed.
The Next Payments Pace over 2180 metres went the way of popular Darraweit Guim/Bolinda part-owner/trainer Alex Hurley’s terribly honest 7YO Follow The Stars-Tourbillon Dargent mare Spun Silver. Beginning speedily from gate four with regular reinsman Triston Larsen in the sulky, Spun Silver bowled along at her leisure to just last by a nose in a tricky finish from Queenhigh Flush (gate five – one/two) and For Ever A Star (gate two – three pegs) a head away. The mile rate was 2.01.
The South Ecklin stable of Marg and Paddy Lee landed the Coulter Legal Maiden Pace over 2180 metres with Jilliby Eclipse, a 3YO daughter of Captain Crunch and Jilliby Olivia. Driven by Jason Lee, Jilliby Eclipse (extreme draw – gate four) crossed Charlie Sebastion (gate two) in the early stages before streeting her rivals by 18.1 metres in a 1.58.6 mile rate. Alcatraz Miss (extreme draw – four pegs) used the sprint lane for third 8.9 metres away.
The 2180 metre MC Labour Trotters Mobile was taken out by Ardmona owner/trainer/driver Donna Castles’ 6YO Dreamcatcher-Mememe mare Suzys Dream. Given every opportunity one/one from gate two, Suzys Dream ran home nicely to record a 6.7 metre victory (her fourth in 55 outings) over Allwatfunjingles (extreme draw – one/three – three wide last lap) and Money Talks (gate six) which was restrained to the rear before gaining a three wide trail home on the back of the runner up 4.6 metres back. The mile rate was 2.03.3.
Kialla trainer/driver Stephen Boyington led throughout aboard 5YO Majestic Son-Modern Maori gelding I Am Harro in the C&M Build Group Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres, easily accounting for Kimberleys Tree (solo second line) from the tail, with Jessicas Story (gate four – three pegs) third. The margins 5.4 by 2.1 metres in a 2.00.1 mile rate.
Gippsland (Trafalgar) trainer Glenn Hunter’s 2YO Pastor Stephen-Zippin Around filly Zippin Past defeated her older rivals in the 1690 metres Picklebet ‘Get Your Pickle On’ Trotters Mobil much to the delight of Cranbourne HRC President David Scott and partners (and there are plenty of them).
With Bolinda’s Chris Alford in the sulky, Zippin Past was driven confidently one/one from a solo second line draw as Piesridingshotgun led from outside the front line before handing over to Buckles For Berry (gate four). Easing three-wide on the final bend, Zippin Past put the race beyond doubt in a couple of strides to win unextended from Buckles For Berry and Piesridingshotgun in a 2.01.2 mile rate. The margins being 2.9 by two metres.
Kilmore races again tomorrow.
