Page 20 The Moorabool News – 18 January, 2022
Sport
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Bendigo Pacing Cup Winner: Spirit Of St Louis (2). Trainer: Belinda McCarthy. Driver: Jack Callaghan. Photo: Stuart McCormick.
Star quality added to list By Todd Whelan Highly talented Essendon VFL listed player Dylan Landt has chosen Darley Football Club as his affiliated club, signing on for season 2022. Landt, known for his lightning speed and excellent ball use joins the Devils after a dominant season with SANFL club Glenelg averaging 28 disposals per game for the Tigers, who fell agonisingly short on Grand Final day. According to new Devils coach Dan Jordan, Landt is a much stronger player now than the one we saw playing at Sunbury in 2019. "Dylan has added some bulk and size during his time at Essendon and Glenelg," Jordan said. "I had a bit to do with him during my time at Essendon and he's really come on," "I would expect Dylan to play on-ball with us, that's if we're fortunate enough to see him in the black and white colors given his progress." The damaging left footer is currently in the Northern Territory plying his football trade with St Mary's and is not expected to return until March. Darley Football Manager Craig Baker, while well aware of Dylan's uncertain availability due to VFL commitments, acknowledged the
signing as another feather in the Devils cap aiming to bounce back from a disappointing 2021. "Dylan comes with a wealth of experience from major leagues, and we're hopeful he can play a role for us at some stage throughout the year," Baker said. "His presence can only help fast track the development of our juniors, an area we're really passionate about moving forward." In more good news for the Devils, key defender and 2021 Club Champion Matthew Brett has recommitted for another season and will assume a Playing Assistant Coach role, primarily in defence. Baker was rapt to lock in the services of the former Werribee talent. "We were really keen to get Matthew full time at the club," Baker said. "With Dan coming on board, he thought he could learn from someone who had been in the AFL system with an aim at taking his football and coaching aspirations to another level." The Devils are progressing nicely on the back of new signings both on and off the field. The club is coming from a fair way back on the results front in 2021, but every step taken since, looks headed in the right direction.
Pacer has spirit
By Michael Howard (HRV)
Bendigo Pacing Cup It could be another TAB Summer of Glory to remember for Belinda McCarthy’s powerful stable after Spirit Of St Louis was dominant in the Garrards Bendigo Pacing Cup held on Saturday 8 January. Young reinsman Jack Callaghan was able to balance up, glide to the top and then control proceedings for a commanding win, sealed with a blazing 26.7-second final quarter belying the 2650-metre long distance Cup. “It was able to work out perfect for him,” Callaghan told TrotsVision. “He was able to get the lead pretty cheap and then that first half we were just left alone. “Everyone knows how fast the horse is, so all he really had to do was dash a quarter and he did that comfortably,” he said. Having his first start in Victoria and first race since running eighth in the Inter Dominion final, Spirit Of St Louis reaffirmed that at age five he was well positioned to make Grand Circuit noise with a complete performance. From gate two he rolled to the top ahead of Torrid Saint and, despite key rival Triple Eight emerging on his outside, Callaghan set a moderate 79.1-second lead time that rolled into 30.6-second and 31.1-second quarters. It meant there would be plenty in the tank for the run to the line and so it would prove, with nothing able to make ground as the leaders finished first and second, while Tango Tara ran on well into third. •••
Personal best run to victory
Im Ready Jet made her own luck and then capitalised to claim a much-coveted trophy, the Aldebaran Park Maori Mile at Bendigo on Saturday 8 January. Jason Lee hustled the Anton Golino trained trotter from the gates to try to cling to Tornado Valley’s back, fighting gamely while Aldebaran Revani and Magicool pressed aggressively off the front row. While Kate Gath had the lead in hand on her millionaire favourite, Aldebaran Revani miss-stepped after Jack Callaghan attempted to slot on to leader’s back, affecting Magicool’s advance and enabling Im Ready Jet to hold behind Tornado Valley. It was a frenetic 27.5-second first quarter that would prove decisive, with Im Ready Jet peeling into the sprint lane at the final run to pass Tornado Valley (third) and hold out Majestic Man (second) and win the Group 1 in a personal best 1:55.4 mile rate. “We were probably questionable whether we were going to be able to hold up and … we definitely had a few things go our way, but she still had to do it,” Lee said. “Thankfully we could hold leader’s back after chasing for a bit and she was still sharp enough up the lane to pick them up.” They got home in a 56.5-second last half, with Im Ready Jet’s late burst reminding her reinsman of her star quality. “I haven’t driven her for a little while but I’ve always said she’s probably the best trotter I’ve ever driven, and I’ve driven some nice ones, probably no superstars, but she was superior to any for sheer speed,” Lee said. “She’s got speed of a pacer.”
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