May Winning Post
6th May: Peter Svanosio has enjoyed a great season and was again in the winners stall at his home track Bendigo after 4Y0 Bacardi Lindy - Yankee Princess mare Maori Queen snared the Bendigo Bank Trotters Mobile for TR0 class over 2150 metres. Trained and driven by son Chris, Maori Queen scored by a nose over the leader Bridie Okane after racing in the open, with Turtle 5.3 metres away in third place. The mile rate 2-06.7.
7th May: John Caldow was victorious with Madeeba, a home bred 5Y0 entire by Courage Under Fire from the grand producing mare Mesmerizing at Yarra Valley taking the 2150 metre C2 class De Bortoli Pace. Eased at the start to settle mid-field, Madeeba raced wide for the last lap before careering away to record a 27.8 metre margin in advance of Byalla Boy and Rocknroll Gold in 1-58.3.
10th May: Duncan McPherson’s ex-Kiwi 7Y0 Muscle Mass - Starcus mare Zhenya trained by Jodi Quinlan captured the 1690 metre T0 or better class Monte at Maryborough. With Emma Hamblin in the saddle Zhenya was having her first start in a ridden event & after stepping cleanly from 10 metres, lobbed along nicely mid-field as Waiting Room led. Poised just off the leaders approaching the final bend, Zhenya surged to the front to record a 10.4 metre margin in advance of Shiftywall & Billy Phelps returning a mile rate of 2-03.
12th May: John Dorrington’s most consistent 7Y0 Courage Under Fire - Pareen gelding Smokey Quartz added another victory to his tally with an easy all of the way victory in the Wests Ashfield Leagues Club Pace over 1609 metres at Menangle. Trained by Kerryanne Turner and driven by partner Robbie Morris, Smokey Quartz speared to the front from gate seven and after being rated to perfection, kicked clear on turning to score by 2.2 metres in a rate of 1-52.4, defeating Controversial and Dynamite Denn Nee. It was Smokey’s 18th success in 79 outings.
16th May: Georgina Coram’s home bred 3Y0 Majestic Son - Annika gelding Lunchwitharthur was outstanding in winning the Yabby Dam Racing Trotters Mobile for T0 & T1 class over 2100 metres at Geelong. Trained and driven by Euroa’s Cameron Maggs, Lunchwitharthur was restrained from an awkward inside the second line draw to possie at the tail of the field, but appeared to throw away all chance when galloping wildly mid-race. Regaining his composure to tack on racing for the bell, Lunchwitharthur set off three wide solo in the final circuit to be outside the leaders Naughty and Illawong Byron approaching the home turn. Asked for an effort on straightening, Lunchwitharthur cruised to the front in the shadows of the post to prevail by 3.6 metres in a most impressive performance, defeating Illawong Byron which led on straightening, with Redriverdebba 5 metres away in third place after a cosy one/one trip. The mile rate 2-02.2.
22nd May: First starter Larajay Macray, a daughter of Sportswriter - Wya Mya Macray making her a half sister to Free For Aller Tee Cee Bee Macray (Ponder), snared the SBG Accountants & Business Advisors 2Y0 Pace over 1609 metres at Cranbourne. Raced by CC member and breeder Ian Kitchin in partnership with trainer Jess Tubbs, Larajay Macray couldn’t muster from the pole settling on the back of the leader Elsa Belle (gate two). Using the sprint lane on turning, Larajay Macray dashed away looking likely to score in easy fashion, however due to newness, she seemed to be all at sea resulting her winning by only 2 metres on the wire in a rate of 2-01.3. Itzamajor Surprise (one/one) was third a neck away. As a lovely gesture, Jess’ late father Alan was honoured as the winner carried his colours.
24th May: At Kilmore The Momentum Gaming 3Y0 Pace over 2180 metres went the way of Bolinda trainer Brent Lilley’s Art Major - Courageousnquick gelding Princely Reign in 2-02.3. Raced by Carol Bass and a host of others, Princely Reign driven by Josh Duggan was given the run of the race from the poletrailing Miracle Marcus which began brilliantly from gate five to lead. Using the sprint lane, Princely Reign finished strongly to gain the day by 1.1 metres in advance of a death-seating Hughies Sister, with Ima Sassy Girl (four back the markers) a neck away third
27th May: Peter Judd’s 4Y0 Rock N Roll Heaven - Hectic mare She Envy racing under the banner of Benstud Standardbreds, led throughout to land the $10,000 Cannanach Earthmoving Vicbred Platinum Country Series N Final for C0 or better class over 2040 metres at Ouyen . Also victorious in her heat at Mildura on May 13th in the same manner, She Envy is trained in South Australia by Justin Brewin and driven by son Jayden, She Envy recorded an easy 9.3 metre margin over Crocodile Kid and Swearengen in a rate of 2-02.
30th May: Peter Svanosio’s 5Y0 Major In Art - Fay Christian gelding Artful Christian snared the C3 & C4 class Evolve Accounting Pace over 1650 metres at Bendigo. Taking a claim for stable assistant Michelle Phillips, Artful Christian despite racing wide from gate six outstayed his rivals to record a 1.4 metre margin ahead of Fourstarzzzspecial which raced parked and Betterthanajeep (one/one) in a rate of 1-57.1.
Lunchwitharthur had another success at Bendigo for Georgie Coram when successful in the Strath Hill Butcher Vicbred Trotters Mobile for T0 & T1 class over 2150 metres. Starting from the extreme draw, trainer/driver Cameron Maggs threw caution to the wind sending the horse forward to cross the well supported Myrtle Vale in the back straight on the first occasion which had also gone forward three wide to take over from Showemyourmuscles. Travelling boldly, Lunchwitharthuer ran his rivals ragged to record a 4.8 metre margin in advance of Myrtle Vale who could make no impression along the sprint lane. Bad Boy Jay Jay was a game third 7.5 metres back after spending most of the race chasing in the “death-seat” a long way off the winner.
31st May: John Yeomans was successful at Cranbourne with Art Major - Of Course I Can 6Y0 entire Major In Arms, taking the C1 class Woodlands Stud Pace over 1609 metres. Driven by Zac Phillips, Major In Arms proved too solid at the business end of proceedings after racing exposed for the journey from gate four, defeating Fairest Fella (one/two) by a neck, with the pacemaker Run Miles Run 3.4 metres away in third place. The mile rate 1-58.