Page 22 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 3, 2017
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Observer Victorian Sport Melbourne
Professor Tom wins at Y. Valley This Week ■ Wednesday - Maryborough/Mildura, Thursday - Cobram/Ballarat, Friday Kilmore, Saturday - Melton, Sunday Bendigo, Monday - Yarra Valley, Tuesday - Swan Hill.
Horses To Follow ■ Sevens Hope, Star In Sight, Soaked, Hakuna, Rocknroll Magic, Ark, Yankee Redback, Max Richter, Steves Star, Badland Star.
Landed double ■ Melton duo Maree and John Caldow landed a double at Bendigo, 5Y0 gelding Stagger Lee taking the Northern Rivers Equine Pace for C5 & C6 class in 1.53.8 and the 1650 metre Evolve Accounting Pace Final for C1 class with Millwood Brandy in 1.58.1.
Hot favourite ■ Potential superstar San Carlo a 6Y0 Mach Three-Bridge Player gelding chalked up his 11th victory from only 12 starts with an all of the way victory in the 2nd Heat of the Victorian Country Clubs Championship for C6 or better class over 2190 metres at Maryborough on Thursday. Trained at Shepparton by Steve O'Donoghue and driven by Bec Bartley, San Carlo was never let go, scoring by 4.2 metres in 1.57.4 over Alotbettor along the sprint lane from three back the markers and Reign Of Pain which trailed the winner. San Carlo will start a hot favourite in the weeks Final at Tabcorp Park on Saturday.
Came from backmark ■ At Ballarat on Thursday, octogenarian Daylesford trainer Bob Conroy provided ever reliable Bacardi Lindy-Lady Pepperell filly Margaret Ruth to greet the judge in the Campana Bros. 3Y0 Trotters Handicap over 2200 metres. Driven by daughter AnneMaree, Margaret Ruth came from a daunting 20 metre backmark to score by 3.7 metres from Clarkes Hill and The Spanyen in 2.05.6.
Did all the work ■ In-form 6Y0 Art Major-Aratusa Lass gelding Major Crocker was a tough victor of the Captain Sandy Free For All at Tabcorp Park Melton on Friday. Trained at Bolinda by Vince Vallelonga and driven by regular reinsman Greg Sugars, Major Crocker did all of the work in the race, parking outside the free running leader Maximan before showing a great will to win over the concluding stages, scoring by a head in a slick 1.51.9. Warragul Cup winner Mister Wickham flashed home late from last to be a metre away in third place.
Easy win at Shepp ■ Bonny 5YO Skyvalley-Thepowerof-healing mare Sky Petite was an easy winner of the $25,000 (Group 3) Shepparton Club Inc, Trotters Cup for M0 or better class over 2690 metres at Shepparton on Saturday much to the delight of trainer Dean Pattison and reinsman David Moran, both locals, Despite a slow beginning from 19 metres, Sky Petite made a sharp move from mid0field to assume control within a lap and toyed with her rivals, scoring by 5,8 metres in advance of Maorisfavouritesun and Shared Interest which led out in a mile rate of 2-04.6 in an all Shepparton area trifecta.
■ Picturesque Yarra Valley raced on Monday April 24, the highlight being the victory of inform 4Y0 Art Major-Petes Dream stallion Professor Tom in the $25,000 United Petroleum Eastern Challenge for C3-C4 class over 2150 metres. Trained at Drouin by Gary and Debbie Quinlan, Professor Tom driven by Gavin Lang possied mid-field in the running line after starting from gate three on the second line as the raging hot favourite Form Analyst led easily from the pole, Coming with a sweeping run out wide on straightening, Professor Tom registered a 2.3 metre margin over Herehecomes (three back the markers) who looked the winner on turning when dashing clear, with Dikerry a game third 3.3 metres away after facing the open. The mile rate 1.55.8.
Led throughout ■ Speedy 4Y0 Majestic Son-Conshe mare The Cooler made it two wins in a row after a Mildura victory a couple of weeks earlier when successful in the 2150 metre T1 or better class De Bortoli Trotters Handicap at Yarra Valley, returning a mile rate of 2.04.6. Trained at Bolinda by Brent Lilley, The Vooler with regular reinsman Rod Petroff in the sulky, led throughout from the pole to defeat Supplements which trailed by 2 metres, with Jeter coming from a mile back to be 2.6 metres back in third place.
Swan Hill good time ■ The Swan Hill Harness Racing Club held a terrific meeting on Tuesday April 25 with the feature being the $25,000 Alabar Bloodstock Northern Region Championship for C1 & C2 class over 2240 metres taken out by the David Aiken (Avenel) trained and Josh Aiken driven Kiwi bred 3Y0 gelding Laredo Torpedo. Starting from gate five on the second line, Laredo Torpedo coming off a second in the Tasmanian Derby at the start of the month settled a long way off the pole pacemaker Hammerhoff which easily retained the front running as the mobile pulled away.. Trailing home both Parisian Rockstar and Nickys Idol in the three wide line for the final circuit, Laredo Torpedo produced a whirlwind finish out wide in the straight to record a 2.8 metre margin over the hot favourite Rocknroll Icon which raced in the open before leading on turning, with Carter Bromac using the sprint lane for third after a one/one trip. The mile rate 1.57.8.
Began brilliantly ■ The Aiken stable had earlier captured the $7,000 Swan Hill Anzac Centenary Cup for C5 or better class over 2240 metres in a track record mile rate of 1.56.1 with 8Y0 Art Major-Vangold gelding Cold Major, a winner of 23 races going into the race. Thrown in on handicaps as he was assessed at C17 class (had it been a handicap he would have been giving some of his rivals up to 120 metres start), Cold Major began brilliantly from gate two on the second line only to be left uncovered, before pressing forward to draw past the leader Keayang Starzzz who began equally as fast from outside the front line. Coasting at the head of affairs, Cold Major gave his rivals the slip on the final bend, racing away to score by 7.3 metres in advance of Classy Western (three wide home turn) and the well backed Hoo Nien which became buried three back the markers before running on late when clear.
Made amends ■ Four year old Sportswriter-Jilliby Mia mare Jilliby Shania trained by Marg Lee at Terang and driven by son Jason, made amends for the defeat of Keayang Starzzz earlier in the night when successful in the Swan Hill RSL Inc. Pace for C2 to C4 class over 2240 metres. Starting from the extreme draw, Jilliby Shania
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with Len Baker followed Parisian Ruler (gate four) forward at the start and effortlessly assumed control shortly after when the last start Kilmore winner Glen Eyre was restrained to take a trail. Travelling easily, Jilliby Shania had plenty left in the tank on turning and kicked away to score by 3.2 metres from Mildura hope Ark which ran home strongly from well back in a rate of 1.59. Des Hilton's Itmademyday was 2.5 metres away third after racing parked from the bell.
Sprouted wings ■ Bendigo (Shelbourne) trainer Larry Eastman's Courage Under Fire-Duel Castle gelding Dennis was outstanding in winning the President Barry Townley 3Y0 Pace over 1750 metres at Swan Hill. Walking away from the pole, Dennis ended up looking hopeless buried alive four back along the markers as the well supported Ferdinand led from outside the front line. Extricated into the clear by Chris Alford in the back straight, Dennis despite being wide on the final bend sprouted wings on turning to record a runaway 1.8 metre margin over Ferdinand and a death-seating Eliza Dushku in a slick 1.55.1.
In rare form ■ Lara trainer Darren Bradley has 8Y0 Modern Art-Curry And Rice gelding Ballan Road racing in rare form at present, bringing up two wins in succession by taking the DNR Logistics Trotters Mobile for Tr1-Tr8 class over 1720 metres at Tabcorp Park Melton on Wedmesday. Driven by Matty Horsnell, Ballan Road led throughout from the pole, accounting for Imagunnadogood (three back the markers) by an easy 9.1 metres and Argyle Melody which trailed the winner. The mile rate 2.03.2.
Highly promising ■ At Bendigo on Wednesday, Ardmona's Doc Wilson snared the Hygain 3Y0 Trotters Mobile over2150 metres with highly promising Nad Boy Truscott-Secret Message gelding Dark Secret, returning a mile rate of 2.02.9. Making only his second race appearance, Derk Secret raced uncovered from gate four throughout, proving much too strong over the concluding stages for the leader Star In Sight, with Silicon Valley (one/one last lap) third. The margins a half neck by 13.5 metres.
Baker’s Delight Dates For Inter ■ The Western Australian Trotting Association and RWWA have released the dates for this year's Inter Dominion Series, the last of a three year period. The series will commence at Gloucester Park on Friday November 24, with heats at Bunbury on Tuesday November 28, then back to GP on Friday Dec 1, with the $1.1 Million Dollar Final to be held on Friday December 8.
Blistering mile ■ Victorians scooped the pool at the big Menangle meeting in NSW on Saturday with champion pacer Lennytheshark taking the $50,000 (Group 2) Bulli Cup and outstanding juvenile Lumineer the $322,000 APG Final for 2Y0 Colts and Geldings, both races over 1609 metres. Lennytheshark (David Aiken - Chris Alford) led throughout to return a blistering mile rate of 1-49.7, with Lumineer (Ange McDowall - Jason Lee) doing similar in 154.4. - Len Baker
Travel Extra Pie eaters unite ■ PIE eaters unite – because come June the NSW Southern Highlands will be the place for the coming together of lovers of that great Australian institution, the pie… be their favourite meat, seafood, vegetables, fruit or whatever else they can think of, at this first-ever festival they’re going to call Pie Time. With the Highlands having a-near thirty direct-outlet pie bakeries, which for pie buffs is more per square kilometre than anywhere else in Australia, and with pies of all varieties amongst favourites in the region’s famed eateries during winter, organisers are planning pie-making demonstrations, pie tastings, pie and beer matchings, pie talks and pie judgings. And throughout June the cafés, hotels and restaurants of the Southern Highlands will be creating signature pie dishes with unique “Dine with a Pie” menus. As well, to help visitors find their way around, a Southern Pie-lands Pie Trail map has already been created and is available highlighting all the local Pie outlets at which devotees can get stuck into the best of these places’ pie products year-round. The map can be accessed on DSH Planner Pie Trail 2017. The month-long June Pie Time will culminate with the public crowning of the Southern Highlands’ very best professional and apprentice bakers and their award-winning pie products over the weekend of June 24 and 25 in Bowral. For more information including help with booking ‘Pie, Bed & Breakfast’ packages if you are planning a visit during Pie Time, call 1300 657 559, or visit www.pietime.com.au - David Ellis
Finished best ■ Scandinavian reinsperson Marlin Hammarskjold was successful aboard 9Y0 Pegasus Spur-Miami Spice gelding Brynmor at Maryborough. Trained at Terang by "boss" Mattie Craven, Brynmor spent most of the race three back the markers from gate two, peeling three wide in the final circuit. Finishing best, Brynmor nabbed the hot favourite Twice As Much in the closing stages to record a 5.4 metre margin n a rate of 2.01.7. It was Brynmor's first victory since November 2015.
● The NSW Southern Highlands will become the Southern Pie-lands when they host pie eaters for the first-ever Pie Time in June.