March Winning Post
2nd March: John Hawke’s Kiwi import Rishi made it three wins in succession with an easy victory at Melton in the Alabar Pace for C3 & C4 class over 2240 metres. Taking a concession for Kima Frenning, Rishi a 4Y0 Bettors Delight - Reklaw gelding went forward from gate four only to be caught outside heavily backed polemarker Misterfreeze before pressing on to assume control. Travelling beautifully, Rishi coasted to the wire 6.7 metres in advance of Firenglow and Rockabella Starz, returning a mile rate of 1-56.8.
2nd March: Kevin Riseley snared another winner when Bettors Delight - Lughnasadh colt Beltane trained by David Aiken and driven by John Caldow scored in the 2240 metre Geoff & Lorraine Barnes 3Y0 Vicbred Pace at Melton. Settling midfield from gate six, Beltane ran home best to prevail by 3.5 metres over Rapid Run and the pacemaker Justice Served in 2-00.3.
3rd March: Paul Rowse was successful at Cranbourne when Rocknroll Hanover - Cultured Lombo 4Y0 entire Small Town led for the majority of the 2080 metre Aidan Graham Memorial Pace for C1 class. Driven by Jodi Quinlan from gate 3 Small Town proved a little difficult to steer, but was too solid for Captain Snoozzze which trailed after leading out from the pole, with Convert Denario third after racing in the open. The margins 6.9 X 5.6 metres in a mile rate of 1-58.5.
3rd March: Rob Molloy shared in a winner with 5Y0 Bettors Delight - Lizzie Maguire gelding Kimani snaring his second successive Mount Gambier Gold Cup for C2 to C5 class over 2580 metres. Trained at Terang by Mattie Craven and driven to perfection by cousin Jason Lee, Kimani stepped cleanly from 10 metres only to be left leading the outside division as rank outsider Hot Breakfast led from the pole. When the raging hot favourite Emain Macha which was poleaxed at the start commenced a forward move mid-race, Kimani went with him to cross the pacemaker and proceeded to lead for the remainder of the trip, accounting for another roughie Okelhero Lad from a mile back by 17.6 metres, with Emain Macha a game third 3.3 metres back. The mile rate 2-01.8.
7th March: Georgina Coram had a nice win with the cleverly named Majestic Son - Annika gelding Lunchwitharthur named in memory of former bookmaker Arthur Bell who liked nothing more than a luncheon engagement, was an impressive victor of the Kilmore Pacing Cup 17 March 3Y0 Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres. Trained and driven by Euroa’s Cameron Maggs, Lunchwitharthur began safely from a solo second line draw to settle three back in the moving line as local Dellsun led from gate five for Billy Millner. Sent forward with a brilliant burst of speed to take over approaching the bell, Lunchwitharthur coasted to the wire, scoring untouched by 13.5 metres in advance of Kyvalley Finn (one/one – three wide home turn) and Tetra (another of the Millner team) who was 9.8 metres away after a cosy passage three back the markers. The mile rate 2-03.8.
12th March: Kimani won again at Horsham taking The Knight Pistol Story Pace for C4 to C6 class over 1700 metres. Driven by Gavin Lang, Kimani was crossed from the pole by Christmas Jolt (gate 4) shortly after the start and after enjoying a sweet trip, used the sprint lane to score by 1.7 metres over the pacemaker in a slick 1-55.9. Our Star Dust ran on from last for third 4.4 metres back. Kimani has since moved to the Gary Hall camp in WA
20th March: John Yeomans snared the Egmont Park Stud Pace for C0 & C1 class over 2080 metres at Cranbourne with Idrather Rahma, a 4Y0 daughter of Real Desire-Starlitestarbright. Bred and raced by John and wife Christine, Idrather Rahma driven by Chris Alford was given an easy time from the pole trailing the leader Cypress Song (gate five) before running on best along the sprint lane to snatch victory by 2.1 metres from the pacemaker in a mile rate of 2-01.8. Miami Phil (one/one) was third 2.9 metres away
22nd March: Bruce Morgan shocked punters at Bendigo when 4Y0 Sportswriter - Cunning Kate mare Valbarann at Supertab odds of $23.50 landed the DNR Logistics Pace for C0 class over 1650 metres. Raced by Bruce, wife Val and a host of loyal owners, Valbarann with John Caldow in the sulky led from gate three, before taking a trail on Blissful Penny who was to hand over to the racing favourite The Defiant. When Blissful Penny came away from the markers to run straight past The Defiant approaching the home turn, Valbarann followed her through and pounced in the straight to score by 2.3 metres over Its Powder Blue, with Blissful Penny a head back in third place. The mile rate 1-53.6.
24th March: John Dorrington’s home bred 6Y0 Gotta Go Cullect - Pareen mare Come Cullect landed the Hurricane Kingcole @ Egmont Park Stud Mares Band 5 Pace over 1660 metres at Albion Park Brisbane. Driven by Adam Richardson for Menangle’s KerryAnn Turner, Come Cullect raced exposed from gate six and in a punishing finish, showed plenty of determination to prevail by a head from Cheers Kathy along the sprint lane off the back of the weakening pacemaker Jessica Amber. Reds Jet Star from mid-field was third a head away. The mile rate 1-54.4.
28th March: Quality Mach Three - Three Eagles colt Higherthananeagle made the 2180 metre Momentum Gaming 3Y0 Pace a one act affair for owners Kevin and Carol Riseley, trainer David Aiken and driver Chris Alford. Settling mid-field in the moving line from the extreme draw, Alford made a slick mid-race move to cross the poleline leader Trent From Punchy at the bell. From thereon, the race became a procession, with Higherthananeagle coasting to the wire 11.8 metres ahead of Joe Nien (three back the markers) in a mile rate of 1-59.2. Trent From Punchy held his ground to finish third 3.2 metres back.
31st March: Come Cullect won again at Albion Park, taking the 1660 metre Seymour Group Band 5 Pace at juicy odds of $10.40. Driven on this occasion by Robbie Morris, the mare starting from inside the second line possied three back the markers before being extricated into the running line along the back straight on the final occasion. Despite making the final bend four wide, Come Cullect finished strongly to score by 1.1 metres in advance of Fire And Ice and Sparkling Cullect in a slick 1-53.6
31st March: Club President Emmy Mazzetti with Emveepee winning at Ararat in the 2195 metre VSTA Trot. The 6Y0 Majestic Son - Fulloninterest gelding trained and driven by Terang’s Mattie Craven, led throughout from gate four, just lasting to register a head decision in 2-03.9 from Aldebaran Pirate and A Nip Will Do