The trainer-driver combination of Shane Loone and Kevin Weidenbach landed a race-to-race double at Port Pirie on Saturday with two all-the-way winners.
The impressive Per Ardua Ad Astra won his sixth race since coming to South Australia scoring comfortably in the Mostyn Clinton Life Member Pace (1609m), then Duffy Hollow won easily in the Graham ‘Fish’ Fischer Pace (2050m).
The complexion of Duffy Hollow’s race changed early in the evening when the $1.28 favourite Coco Mia became agitated on the way to the track, slightly hurting a hock, and was a late scratching.
Loone, who trains at Two Wells, shot up to fourth place on the SA Trainer’s premiership with his double, while Weidenbach, who only recently committed to driving more regularly in the state, now has 21 winners and is ninth on the Drivers table.
“Per Ardua Ad Astra is a nice horse that is getting better,” Loone said.
“When he came over from Perth I thought he was a bit light, and I have been trying to build him up.
“I think he is looking better and hopefully he can keep measuring up as he goes through the classes.
“He could be a nice country cups horse later in the season.
“He is out of the draw in stand starts but has moved away well in the few tries I have given him in trackwork.”
Loone said Per Ardua Ad Astra was sent across from Western Australia by Bob Fowler, owner of the Allwood Stud Farm.
“Bob is delighted with the way the horse is going and intends sending a couple more across including Ad’s half-brother.
“I also have four three-year-olds by his stallion Tinted Cloud which I stood here for several seasons.”
Per Ardua Ad Astra ($2.40) was perfectly rated by Weidenbach and never looked in danger scoring by five metres from Uncle Chan ($7) with Told You Twice ($3.90), two metres away third in an excellent mile rate of 1:56.6.
With no Coco Mia, Weidenbach made his intentions clear early on Duffy Hollow and the heavily backed $2.70 favourite led comfortably and again was well driven to score by three metres from Tembie ($3.70) which trailed the leader throughout with Joonior Brown ($13), 7-1/2 metres away third.
Loone said Duffy Hollow was owned by Broken Hill resident Matt Schembri.
“With no racing at the Hill currently, Matt brought him down to me and I am really happy with how the horse is going.
“Once he found the front at Pirie he was always going to be hard to beat.”
A perfect drive by South Australia’s leading concession driver Bernadette Page saw My Bad Habits finishing powerfully to win the Betta Home Living Port Pirie Trotters Handicap (1609m).
The two favoured runners Muscle Miss (2.50 fav) and Majestic Tilly ($3.80) came out quickly from gates one and four respectively and kept up a goo9d tempo.
Page angled My Bad Habits ($4.60) in a trail and tracked the speed.
Just as Majestic Tilly asserted control, My Bad Habits was ready to challenge and proved too strong up the straight winning by six metres. Stingofawasp ($8) was four metres away third with Muscle Miss fading to fourth.
The winner was bred, owned and trained by Matt Maguire and continues to go through the grades.
My Bad Habits, a five-year-old, has won nine races from just 42 starts.
Page brought up a double when the outsider Bitofdutchcourage finished best to win the Ladbrokes Odds Surge Pace (2050m).
Globe Derby Park trainer Luke O’Neill had two favourites, Hezacrocwatcher and Muscle Miss beaten in earlier races, and it was left to Bitofdutchcourage at the massive odds of $151, to give him a victory.
Page had the roughie three back in the running line before bringing him out wide and deliver a knockout to most punters.
Bitofdutchcourage scored by two metres from Sheza Manipulator ($2.40 fav) which came from last with Jamaican Rock ($10), a head away third.
A dashing drive by Corey Johnson saw Bernie Macray return to the winning list in the Hygain Pace (1609m).
Johnson ensured his drive had every chance when angling into the one-out, one-back position with a lap to go.
Trained at Penfield by Lane Johnson, Bernie Macray ($10) sprinted strongly over the final 300 metres to score by 1-1/2 metres from Johnboyazza ($7) with Hezacrocwatcher ($1.60 fav) two metres away third.
It was the winner’s first victory since scoring at Globe Derby Park on February 24.
Talented mare Laylas Princess made it two wins in a week leading throughout in the Laucke Mills Southern Cross Pace (2050m).
After scoring at Gawler on Monday for Globe Derby Park trainer Clinton Fuller, the four-year-old mare came from gate one on Saturday and was backed from $1.90 into $1.60 favourite.
Owned by the trainer’s father Allan, Laylas Princess was driven by Samantha Pascoe.
After having an easy run in front, the mare had to fight hard to hold off The Reginator ($11) by a half head.
The Port Pirie Harness Racing Club will hold another feature meeting this Saturday before harness racing readies for a return to Globe Derby Park.
