Darraweit trainer/driver Lisa Miles scored a most impressive victory with five-year-old Great Success/Our First Strike gelding Roy Hobbs in the Aldebaran Park Trotters Handicap over 2150 metres at Lord’s Raceway Bendigo yesterday.
Bred and raced by Miles, Tony Eley, David Raphael and Terry Wait, Roy Hobbs was first-up for over 17 months and stepped safely from 10 metres to settle five back in the moving line, with the roughie Mowbray Mates crossing Kains Boy shortly after the start.
Easing three-wide in the final circuit, Roy Hobbs sprinted brilliantly to surge clear on the final bend to register a 19.8-metre victory in advance of Pocket Of Fortune from well back after being shuffled from three back the markers as the leaders weakened, with Forest Spider, which raced parked, third after striding clear in the back straight. The mile rate 2:02.9.
Elmore trainer Matt Higgins has much improved The Wrath Of Pan/Ata Guide mare Dynamic Dudette absolutely airborne at present, chalking up her fourth victory in her last five outings by taking the Freedom Tanks Pacers Handicap for C1 or better class over 2150 metres.
Driven once again by Daryl Douglas, Dynamite Dudette was crossed from the pole by UMI (barrier three), before immediately moving around him to assume control.
Allowed to run as she did at Charlton in her previous victory, Dynamite Dudette again ran her rivals ragged, scoring by 3.4 metres over Wheres Paddy off a three wide trail last lap after being four back the markers, with Lems Cameo (one/one – three wide last lap) third. The mile rate 2:01.4.
Kyabram’s Mark Watson was successful with Always A Virgin/Shove Off gelding Always Arjay in the Staffordshire Park 3-Y-0 Pace over 2150 metres at Bendigo.
With Daryl Douglas in the sulky, Always Arjay (gate two on the second line) ran home strongly from mid-field in the moving line to impressively defeat Girlsnpearls (three back the markers) and Chasing A Win (four back the markers) in a rate of 2-00.5.
Five-year-old Modern Art/Jemalong Lady gelding Yerrington Bob snared the second heat of the Vicbred Platinum Country Series C for C0 class over 2150 metres for Merrigum trainer Brett Bunfield and reinsman Gavin Lang.
In what was a strong staying exhibition, Yerrington Bob returning after several unplaced efforts in the Riverina, outstayed his rivals after sitting parked from gate four to blouse the leader Snack Beast (gate three), with Somedreamsomewhere a disappointing third after trailing the pacemaker and using the sprint lane to no avail. The mile rate 1:58.9.
Elmore trainer Keith Cotchin’s four year old Mach Three/Just Say Go gelding Just Knew brought up victory number three from 20 outings, when successful in the 3rd Heat of the Platinum Country Series C.
Taken back to near last from gate five by Nathan Jack, Just Knew set off three-wide solo in the last lap to hit the front on the home turn, holding a margin all the way up the running to register a 4.5-metre margin over Village Me, which followed him home, with Riverboat Princess (one/two) running on late to finish third, albeit 15.1 metres in arrears of the runner up. The mile rate 1:59.1.
Seymour part-owner/trainer John Green made a long awaited return to the winners list, when lightly raced five-year-old Jeremes Jet/Debutante gelding Sullenberger broke his maiden status at start number seven by taking the Oktoberfest @ BHRC October 18 Pace over 1650 metres.
Driven by Nathan Jack, Sullenberger settled mid-field in the moving line from gate two on the second row, with Somewhat Sardonic leading out from gate four before being crossed by Giant Steps, which was driven desperately by Rita Burnett from gate five.
Easing three-wide in the last lap, Sullengerger sprinted sharply to lead prior to the home turn, scoring by 6.7 metres in a slick rate of 1-56.2 over Born To Be Brave which raced in the open from the bell, with Giant Steps a courageous third.
Wayne Potter and Nathan Jack combined to easily land the CV Batteries Pace over 2150 metres with Bettors Delight/Elegant Falcon gelding Grand Prix in a rate of 2:01.
Coming off a strong third at Melton the previous Saturday, Grand Prix led throughout from gate two, accounting for Terra Beau (three back the markers) and a death-seating Myrniong Firecracker.
David and Josh Aiken snared the Bendigo Bank Pace for C3 & C4 class over 2150 metres with Buy Chevron Direct, a six-year-old gelded son of In The Pocket and Jessica Rose, leading all of the way from gate two in defeating Sammysluck which trailed and Ruby Slippers from a mile back.
Andy and Kate Gath have enjoyed a super week and improving six-year-old Pegasus Spur/Times Of Reckoning gelding Ive No Boundaries brought up two wins in a row by taking out the Petstock Trotters Handicap for T0 or better class over 2150 metres.
Given a lovely trip from barrier six by Kate trailing the pacemaker Twelve Or A Dozen (barrier three), Ive No Boundaried finished best along the sprint lane to register a 1.3 metre victory over a game Michaels Mename (one/one – three wide last lap) and Twelve Or A Dozen in a rate of 2:05.7.
