Nathan Jack, pictured on the left, drove a double last night at Echuca.
The head of the field was the place to be at Frank Ryan Raceway Echuca on Tuesday February 25, with leaders galore victorious.
Riverina (Yanco) visitor Kim Hillier started the ball rolling when her four year old Grinfromeartoear/Penultimate mare Dreamy Smile showed a clean pair of heels to her rivals in the Dinki-Di Houseboats Pace for C0 class over 1755 metres.
Driven by stable reinsman Blake Jones, Dreamy Smile from the pole coasted to the wire 4.7 metres in advance of Louisiana Spring (three back the markers – three wide home turn) in a rate of 1-59.8, with Rockin Ruby (one/one) third.
Nathalia trainer/driver Noel Tyndall’s four year old LiveOr Die/Crystal Reign gelding Die Tryin repeated the dose in the Christies Welding Services Pace for C0 class over 2160 metres, returning a mile rate of 2-05.2.
Leading easily from gate two, Die Tryin was allowed to bowl along at his leisure and was never in any danger, scoring by 2.9 metres over the local Maharaja Lombo which raced in the open and Life Long Voyage which trailed the winner.
Tyndall received all the spoils from the race as he bred and races the winner.
Kyabram’s Mick Blackmore does a fine job with his select team and landed the Leigh Kent Memorial Pace for C1 class over 2160 metres with Life Sign/Philtra Girl four year old gelding Philtra Phella.
First up since December, Philtra Phella with Nathan Jack in the sulky safely retained the inside running from the pole and after an easy time, kicked away on the final bend to record a 7.5 metre victory from Chiquita Bromac (three back the markers) and The Binder (one/two – three wide last lap) in a rate of 2-01.7.
Rochester trainer Mark Thompson kept his terrific Echuca record intact by snaring a stable double with a pair of four year olds – Jeremes Jet/Zora Paree gelding Mind The Wire taking the Coolabah Turf Promotion Pace for C0 class over 1755 metres and Live Or Die/Secret Bonus mare Dieing Secret the Moama Bowling Club Pace for C2 & C3 class over 2160 metres.
Mind The Wire driven by Ararat’s Michael Bellman, led all of the way from gate two, accounting for Lust which trailed and Nolagalile which followed the pair in 1-59.6, while Dieing Secret (Ellen Tormey) did exactly the same from the same gait to defeat Wayne Lear’s Fergus MacTavish which raced outside her, with Juke Kartel (three back the markers) third. The mile rate 2-01.
Kilmore trainer Robbie Walters snared the Ausure Vicbred Pace for C1 class over 1755 metres with much travelled speedy mare Hollys Miss Molly, a four year old daughter of Jet Laag and Lombo Luvbird.
Coming off a fourth at Albury the previous Friday, Hollys Miss Molly led throughout from gate three, defying all challengers to easily account for What A Life which shadowed her for most of the journey in a rate of 2-03.1, with Earls Reign third after following the winner and making no impression along the sprint lane.
It was Hollys Miss Molly’s 15th victory in 63 outings.
Lancaster part-owner/trainer/driver Carmel Belot was successful with honest five year old Sundon/Sorry Hall gelding Sans Frontiere in the Doris Schmedjie Trotters Handicap for T0 or better class over 2530 metres.
Starting from the 20 metre mark, Sans Frontiere began speedily to settle three back along the markers, with the lone front marker Royalty Scheme leading.
Easing away from the inside to possie one/one within a lap, Sans Frontier vacated the prime spot mid-race to park outside the front runner, posting the equal favourite Star Style three wide for the remainder of the trip, with the other equal elect Dabbsey trailing her.
Taking care of the leader on the home turn, Sans Frontiere defied allchallengers to score by 1.6 metres in a rate of 2-07.9 from Featherfoot Sun from last, with Candy Digger using the sprint lane for third after trailing the pacemaker.
Euroa based reinsman Cameron Maggs captured the A & R Water Solutions 3-Y-0 Pace over 1755 metres with Royalmattjesty/Exclusive Michelle gelding Exclusive Matt in a rate of 2-01.4.
Raced by Cameron in partnership with uncle David Jack who trains the horse, Exclusive Matt after starting from the extreme draw settled well back in the field, with Mikoney Courage leading from gate four.
Sent forward three wide racing for the bell, Exclusive Matt surged to the front prior to the home turn to score by 1.9 metres over Barley Shaker which followed the winner home, with Neishars Jet (one/one) third.
Avenel trainer Wayne Potter provided Nathan Jack with a driving double when Modern Art/Yeronga Ecila colt Sketch Me greeted the judge in the Bendigo Bank 3-Y-0 Pace over 1755 metres.
Not wasting any time from gate two on the second row, Sketch Me was sent forward to park outside the leader Mymumsabankmanager, with Jack setting the tempo to suit.
Cruising to the front in the back straight on the final occasion, Sketch Me careered away to space his rivals, winning by 10.4 metres in advance of Kimcandash (three back the markers) and Sir Briggen (one/three) in a slick 2-00.5.
