Idyllic, a Victorian pacer which had not won a race for nearly two years, scored an all-the-way win in Sunday’s 2024 Pirate Life Brewing & CUB Kapunda Pacing Cup (2610m).
Resuming from a break of six months, Idyllic, a drifter from $2.50 to $4.40, led throughout to score a one metre win over Lord Zarias ($3.20) with Artillery ($2.40 fav) a similar margin away third.
Trained at Red Cliffs by Naomi Kerr, and driven by Lochie Cook, the six-year-old entire was formerly prepared by Australia’s leading trainer Emma Stewart and her partner Clayton Tonkin.
Kerr, battling a cold, said Idyllic had broken a back fetlock in a paddock accident by kicking a rail.
“Clayton and Emma did all the early work this preparation before sending her to my stable,” Kerr said.
“We picked out this race as a suitable option because the winner qualifies for a start in the SA Cup at Globe Derby Park on Saturday, October 26.
“Now that he is guaranteed a start we can take him home and ensure he is at full fitness for the Cup.
“As it was his first run since March he will take great fitness benefit, and there will be just natural improvement.”
From gate two, Idyllic found the front and was rated perfectly by Cook with a 60.8 second first half of the last 1600 metres.
Artillery, which had been one-out, one-back was sent forward in the back straight by driver Paul Cavallaro which resulted in a quick 27.7 second third quarter.
It also allowed driver Ryan Hryhorec to come off the inside with Lord Zarias and sprint forward.
Idyllic responded to Cook’s urgings and he held on to win and join another Victorian Yambukian as guaranteed a start in the Group 3 $60,000 South Australian Pacing Cup (2645m).
Talented square gaiter My Bad Habits ensured partners Matt Maguire and Bernadette Page would have a starter in the biggest race of their career with victory in the 2024 Sir John Franklin & Duxton Group Kapunda Trotters Cup (2610m).
Maguire, bred, owns and trains My Bad Habits while Page is the regular driver.
Sunday’s victory ensures a start in the Group 3 $40,000 South Australian Trotters Cup (2645m) at Globe Derby Park on Saturday, October 26.
My Bad Habits ($7.50) came with a strong sprint to score a 3-1/2 metre win from Wishing Star ($3.60) which had trialled to lead throughout, with its stablemate Stingofawasp ($9.50), 4-1/2 metres away third.
Page, a concession driver, is having a wonderful career and sits fifth on the SA Drivers premiership with 49 winners and is a runaway leader in the SA Young Drivers award.
On Sunday, October 20, Page and Samantha Pascoe will represent South Australia in the Australian Female Drivers Championship at Launceston in Tasmania.
Wishing Star found the front from barrier four in the standing start Cup and reinsman Kevin Weidenbach tried to get away with slow sectionals, but Josh Holberton on Xebec ($8.50) moved alongside to make it a truly run affair.
“I thought I was too far back,” said Page who settled at the tail of the field on My Bad Habits.
“The leaders were going along, and I thought I might have a job to catch them.
“I was able to get a lead up to the leaders by getting on the back of Danielle Hill on Illawong Moonbeam and he was able to come wide and win.
“He is going super and a credit to Matt.”
My Bad Habits ran a new Kapunda track record of 2:03.5 tasking 0.9 off the previous best set by Al Bundy back in 2017.
Trainer-driver Ryan Hryhorec produced a great drive to land Confiscated a photo-finish winner of the Dick & Janet White Memorial Trotters Handicap (2200m) and spoil a local victory.
Confiscated ($3.10) arrived late to win by a head from Our Spitfire ($8) which had led until the shadows of the post.
Sammy Barbaro ($9) was a metre away third sprinting through on the inside,
The placegetters are both trained at Bagot Well by Peta Brown.
Meanwhile at Gawler on Friday, two feature juvenile races were conducted.
Mother and son, Ingrid and Michael Smith, combined to take out the $8500 2024 Ladbrokes Derby (2070m) with the talented Tonkawaikon.
Coming with a flashing run from near last, Tonkawaikon ($10) scored by five metres from Star Man ($4.80), driven by the trainer’s husband David with Shezamajorstar ($10), three metres away third.
The winner is owned by New South Wales farmer David Heinjus who is yet to see his three-year-old live.
“When I had to go back early I thought he was in trouble,” Michael Smith said.
“Sometimes he can get a bit keen, but today he settled beautifully.
“When I got him to the outside he really sprinted sharply.”
In the 2024 DF & E Kemp & Son Sapling Stakes (1609m), Mount Gambier two-year-old Always Dancing proved too strong for his rivals.
Trained by Alyce Finnis, and driven by her husband Jayson, Always Dancing ($1.40 fav) scored by six metres from Machete Roulette ($6.50) with Shirley Not ($21), two metres away third.
The placegetters had a stirring battle for much of the race with the result the winner rated a very smart 1:56.9 for two-year-olds.
Jayson Finnis said Always Dancing, a $40,000 purchase, was still learning about racing.
“He works better at home,” Finnis said.
“When I take him to the tracks he looks around and takes everything in.
“Today, he thought about pulling up in the back straight because the leaders were a fair way in front, but he kept going then realised there was still a race to be won.”
Finnis said he would be back for the Golden Nursery heats at Globe Derby Park on Saturday, October 19.
