Guarantee’s blanket success

BOORT Trotting Club’s cup meeting on Sunday turned out a guaranteed success.

A large crowd that included Harness Racing Victoria chairman Dale Monteith saw Pas Guarantee storm home by half a neck in the Beattie Family Pacing Cup.

Rochester trainer Mark Thompson came close to cup quinella with Cee Cee In America trained by Charlton’s Joe Thompson edging out Pas Guarantee’s stablemate Missed The Truth in the blanket finish.

Leading out from gate two, Missed The Truth was given no peace by Major Watson (gate four) after the pair crossed polemarker Cee Cee In America who was able to angle off the markers to settle one/one after Major Watson galloped causing a slight chain reaction before being shuffled back a spot with Pas Guarantee going forward for Jack Laugher from three back to race outside his stablemate, this relegated Major Watson to three back in the moving line.

With runs coming from all directions in the last lap, the favourite Sew What was pushed four wide from the tail as Cee Cee In America came out ahead of her. Driven desperately on turning, Missed The Truth kept on giving with Pas Guarantee issuing a strong claim and Cee Cee

In America joining in. In a blanket finish Pas Guarantee in quarters of 31.8, 32.4, 29.4 and 28.6 after a lead time of 46.7, got the judges nod by a narrow margin, with Missed The Truth who was probably a certainty beaten a half neck away third considering the petrol he used up at the start. Prosecco Boy after trailing the leader was fourth after using the sprint lane.

The mile rate 2-00.8 was just 1.5 seconds outside both Anothermasterpiece (2021) and Perspective’s (2019) track record of 1-59.3.

Boort, the oldest Victorian harness racing club, was praised for its successful cop meeting by Monteith who joined the large crowds at Boort Park. hey witnessed top racing across the card’s eight events with the major cop races both carrying $14,000 in prizemoney.

In the Peter Walsh Trotters’ Cup, Salt Creek via Great Western owners Phillip and Tammy Giles victorious with 6Y0 Majestic Son-Wee Sun Lass gelding Double Helix who emulated his St Arnaud Trotters’ Cup success in January. Trained by Phillip and driven once again by Hamilton’s Jackie Barker, Double Helix pinged the tapes from barrier two, leading easily from Downunder Barkers (gate three) which trailed, Get Lucky (three pegs) and old timer Glorious Finale four back from 20m.

The outside division changed throughout the race with Show Me The Moolah lobbing in the breeze before gaining cover from 30 metre equal backmarker Hatchback who shortly after eased to take a trail when Beau Garcon was set alight from midfield to race exposed.

Rated an absolute treat, Double Helix bounded away on the home turn with the race safely in his keeping to register a 6.8 metre margin over Show Me

The Moolah (one/two mid-race –three wide home turn. Hatchback which moved to second in the last lap after Downunder Barkers galloped wildly held third 4.5 metres back.

In quarters of 30.5, 31, 29.7 and

30.9 after a lead time of 83.4, Double Helix returned a mile rate of 2-06.6 - 3.5 seconds outside Well Defined’s record set in 2021.

- LEN BAKER

Stalwarts made life members

COLIN Osborne and Ray Stomann were awarded Boort Trotting Club life membership during Sunday’s cup meeting.

The announcements were made by member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh who spoke of the pair’s oustanding conrtributions over many decades.

Osborne has notched up 40 years on the committee and continues to act as number’s clerk on race days.

He said encouragement from Bruce Kirk when the club was looking for younger members four decades ago had been the start of his involvement.

“I just do my job ... I don’t know where those 40 years have gone,” Osborne said after receiving the life membership badge, only the 22nd to be awarded in the club’s 132-year history.

“I just want to see the club continue as it is going now, run by volunteers.”

Ray Stomann has been Boort’s policeman for 34 years and the trotting club was one of the first groups he joined after arriving in the town.

His understanding of administration had served the trotting club well throughout that time on the committee.

But he joked: “I don’t have a happy history of picking winners here.”

Mr Walsh and club president John Campbell praised the two life memberships for their service to the club and their spirit of being good volunteers.