The fast class feature of the night at the Nyah HRC fixture held art Swan Hill on Tuesday – the CTA Pace for C6 or better class over 2240 metres was a farcical affair with Great Western trainer/driver Kerryn Manning’s McArdle/Lady Jaccka 6-Y-0 gelding Jaccka Luke leading throughout from the pole in pedestrian mile rate of 2-01.7.
Allowed to dawdle with no pressure being applied, Jaccka Luke sprinted home his last half mile in a slick 55.7 (quarter 26.7) to score from the claimer Fire It Up (one/one – three wide home turn) and Freemason which followed the winner.
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Kerryn was also successful at Maryborough the day before with 4-Y-0 Washington Vc/Robyns Measure gelding Willow Robyn in the Stonebridge Regal @ Loddon Valley Stud Pace for C1 class over 2190 metres.
Racing in the open from the bell, Willow Robyn was too strong for his rivals at the finish, defeating Seven Ounce which followed him home and Guggenheim which led in a rate of 2-03.7.
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Once again horses trained in the vicinity of Ararat took most of the spoils at the Ararat meeting held on Wednesday January 22.
Peter and Kerryn Manning as per usual were prominent throughout the evening, with Peter landing a training double (Esiseos Falcon and Rinashi) and Kerryn driving the pair plus Paparazzi Snapshot in the Andrew & Lynda Rylance Trotters Handicap.
Extremely talented Elsu/Hanover Chic three year old gelding Eliseos Falcon returned to the winners list in the Dick & Deb Narik Pace for C1 class over 1790 metres, but not before giving his supporters plenty of heart flutters.
Trapped five wide from outside the front row, Eliseos Falcon was taken back to the tail of the field, with Walky Talky as expected leading from the pole.
Moving forward wide in the last lap, Eilseos Falcon wobbled on the final bend, straightening at least five wide, with Suerte trained by Kerryn taking a slender margin on turning.
Finishing hard down the outside fence, Eliseos Falcon raced by Tony Prochilo, Ange Cammaroto, Rob Merola and Michael Taranto gained the day by a head in a tricky finish over Suerte and Citysneak which trailed the pacemaker. The mile rate 2-01.9.
Four year old Town Champion/Epona Sunshine mare Rinashi obviously has a liking for Ararat as her only other victory was there, took out the Bruce & Jenny Park Pace for C1 class over 2195 metres, leading throughout from the pole to score from Thanknbonnie which shadowed her for the final circuit, with The Kimura (one/three) third. The mile rate 2-01.2.
Injury plagued seven year old Grinfromeartoear/Hyclass Sioux mare Paparazzi Snapshot trained at Armstrong by Brooke Hansen and partner Tim O’Brien was a huge 19.6 metre winner in 2-07.7.
Starting from a 50 metre backmark, Paparazzi Snapshot coming off a terrific fourth to Trappers Puzzle in the South Australian Trotters Cup eleven days earlier, stepped cleanly as the tapes released, before putting in a little skip shortly after, but quickly regained her gait to settle four back in the running line.
Suited by the tempo of the race as the leaders Drop Us A Line, Mosquito Spur and Whathappensinvegas all vied for the front running with Whathappensinvegas winning out, Paparazzi Snapshot was eased three wide racing for the bell and given full rein in the back straight, dashed away prior to the home turn to put the race beyond doubt.
Whathappensinvegas trained and driven by Kerryn’s sister Michelle Wight battled on gamely to finish second, with Looka A Moral (one/one) third.
Eight year old Mount Gambier gelding Ruffiano making his 195th appearance at the races, chalked up his 13th victory by taking the Adam & Jodie Narik Pace for C1 class over 1790 metres.
Burning across the face of the field from gate four with Glen Craven in the sulky, Ruffiano (Justanotherpoorboy/La Belle) trained by Anthony Glynn, held too many guns for the hot favourite Additallup which threw away her chance with a bad beginning from the pole even though she momentarily took a slender lead at the straight entrance after going forward from last three wide in the last lap.
Captain Chequer finished third after trailing the winner. The mile rate 2-00.2.
It was the opening night of the much sought after rich Tontine Series for C2 to C4 class and Parwan duo Craig Demmler (trainer) and Jodi Quinlan (driver) drew first blood when highly promising four year old Art Major/Maikona mare Glenferrie EJ scored over the 2195 metre trip, much to the delight of millionaire owner Peter Chambers racing under the banner of Glenferrie Farms Pty Ltd.
Settling three back in the running line from a solo second line draw, Glenferrie EJ was sent forward three wide racing for the bell to park outside the leader and last start Ballarat winner Manningham Park.
Surging to the front prior to the home turn, Glenferrie EJ coasted to the wire six metres in advance of the favourite Clancys Fobwatch and Znana in 1-59.5.
