AN interesting 10 race program for the lower grade horses was held at Kilmore on Thursday October 8 with mixed results throughout the night.
Sutton Grange trainer Ross Graham, a regular at most Kilmore meetings, drew first blood when 4Y0 Skyvalley-Doonaree gelding Skye Diva bred and raced by Gerard White landed the Next Payments 4Y0 & Older Maiden Trotters Mobile over 1690 metres. Driven by James Herbertson, Skye Diva starting from the extreme draw avoided many gallopers in the early stages to lob one/one with Pievalley (gate five leading). Joining the leader on the final bend, Skye Diva raced clear shortly after to defeat Dance With Roxy (three pegs from inside the second line) – three wide on turning by 1.3 metres in a 2-03.9 mile rate. El Uno (restrained from outside the front line to the rear) ran on late for third 8.6 metres back.
It was a local victory in the 1690 metre Tellurian Wines Pace when Darraweit Guim/Bolinda trainer Alexandra Hurley’s 5Y0 Alta Christiano-Tourbillon gelding Altius scored. Raced by Ali, daughter Amelia, sister Fran and a host of others too numerous to mention, Altius with James Herbertson in the sulky led for most of the journey from gate three, accounting for Bella Louise (extreme draw) which flashed home from the rear and Feel The Reign (gate three second line – one/two). The margins 1.8 by a head in a 1-56.2 mile rate. It was Altius’ fifth success in 22 outings.
Axedale trainer Mick Carbone is having a lucky run at present and 3Y0 Captaintreacherous-Ponder Girl filly Krissy snared her third victory in 20 outings by taking the La Dimora Retirement Resort Pace over 2180 metres for owner/breeders Neville & Wendy Dewhirst. Driven by Jack Laugher who is having a tremendous season, Krissy (gate five) went forward to cross polemarker All Done Tara and proceeded to lead throughout in defeating Hello Possums (gate three – one/one) which gained a late split in the straight for second by 1.8 metres, with Bungy (inside second line – one/two) third a nose away. The mile rate 1-59.3.
Honest 9YO Bad Boy Truscott-Spoil Me Guv gelding Kalarney Prince doesn’t win very often but chalked up his ninth victory in 120 outings (35 placings) when successful in the 2180 metre O’Brians Electrical Trotters Mobile. Trained at Wahring by part-owner Paul Weidenbach and driven by Ewa Justice, Kalarney Prince enjoyed a cosy trip three pegs from gate two after Sonnyboy (outside front line) went forward to arrest the lead away from Bet Bet Hotshot (gate six) which flew away. Coming away from the inside prior to the home turn, Kalarney Prince raced to the front shortly after to race clear and hold a margin to the wire, winning by 12.6 metres from Sonnyboy, with polemarker Imaboganboy (four pegs) third 3.6 metres back. The mile rate 2-02.
Tooleen’s Alex Ashwood trained and reined 6Y0 Always B Miki-Madam Narryna gelding Ashante Warrior to lead throughout from gate five in the Kilmore Ford Maiden Pace over 1690 metres. Always in control, Ashante Warrior greeted the judge by 2.5 metres clear of polemarker Heavenly Nikky (three pegs) along the sprint lane, with Dyganali (gate five) third 1.5 metres away third after racing exposed. The mile rate 1-57.8.
Woodvale trainer Heather Morrissey’s Sebastian K-Kamenshek 5Y0 gelding Koufax bred and raced by husband Bill scored his first victory since June 2023 when taking the Broadstead Kilmore Trotters Mobile over 1690 metres in a mile rate of 2-00.8. Driven by Bendigo based Neil McCallum, Koufax (gate three) settled on the back of the leader Silent Reverie (gate two) before using the sprint lane with horses spread all over the track to gain the day by 1.1 metres from Spanish Rizardo (gate six – one/three) and At The Distance which raced exposed from the bell after vacating a one/one trip from gate five third a head back.
Rochester trainer Neville Pangrazio combined with James Herbertson aboard 3Y0 Skyvalley-Cohen Road Kate gelding Spirited Gigi to snare the Coulter Legal Trotters Mobile over 1690 metres, leading virtually throughout from gate three to record a big 18.6 metre margin in advance of Woman To Love (gate five – three pegs) along the sprint lane. Polemarker Matisoff (three pegs) was third 2.3 metres back. The mile rate 2-00.2.
Leading trainer Emma Stewart landed the MC Labour Vicbred Voucher 2Y0 Maiden Pace over 2180 metres with Downbytheseaside-Majeur Le Crest colt Casterton who for some reason opened at $5.00 before being backed in to start a $1.55 favourite. Given plenty of time to find his feet from the extreme draw after galloping shortly after the start at his first outing when a raging hot favourite, Casterton settled at the rear, but once balanced ‘Herbie’ sent him forward with a rush to assume control from Heavenly Gem (gate two) at the bell. Looking likely to score by a big margin, Casterton appeared to stargaze or turn off approaching the wire to get the judge’s nod by only four metres in 2-01.3 mile rate from Heavenly Gem and Whitehaven Boy (three pegs – outside winner home turn).
The C&M Build Group Mares Pace over 1690 metres which wasn’t shown saw Strathfieldsaye trainer Julie Dougles’ Raging Bull- Elegant Jewel filly Ozzie Diamond successful. Coming off a last start victory at Kilmore on September 30, Ozzie Diamond driven by Kialla based Tasmyn Potter went forward from gate six to arrest the lead from pacemaker That’s Me Again (gate five) who had crossed polemarker Delta Starz running into the first bend. Given an easy time, Ozzie Diamond left her rivals standing on the home turn to record a 12.2 metre margin over Touch Of Reality (one/one) from the extreme draw, with That’s Me Again holding third 6.2 metres back third. The mile rate 1-58.
It was no joke when 8Y0 For A Reason-Happy Face gelding Reason To Laugh brought up his 5th victory in 101 outings (27 placings) for Croydon owner/trainer Brett Wahlstrom scoring in the 2180 metre Picklebet ‘Get Your Pickle On’ Pace. With Liam Older in the sulky, Reason To Laugh was taken back from gate five at the start to settle four back in the running line as Arraps (gate three) crossed polemarker Chasing The Wind. Going forward three wide in the last lap, Reason To Laugh sustained a long run to hit the front in the straight and held on to defeat Riddellmethis (outside front line) – five wide home turn from the rear and the Kilmore trained Miki Mark (inside second line) which flashed home late from three pegs when clear for third. The margins a half head by 2 metres in a 2-01.6 mile rate.
Both the club and HRV would not have been happy with the Sky coverage missing races, shafting them to Sky 2 and not showing the placings after close finishes.
