July Winning Post
4th July: It was great to see Bob Willis in the winners stall at Terang when home bred Shadow Play - Our Waltzing Mathilda filly Miss Victoria scored in the I W McCallum Memorial 3Y0 Pace over 2180 metres. Trained locally by Marg Lee and driven by son Jason, Miss Victoria settled three back in the moving line as Speechcraft led from gate five. Going forward three wide hitting the back straight on the final occasion before dropping in for a short breather prior to the home turn, Miss Victoria when again taken wide finished determinedly to gain the day by 1.3 metres in advance of Nowhere Creek which followed her throughout, with Eastbro Katie 1.5 metres back in third place after always being handy. The mile rate 2-00.8
12th July: Stan Nedwell and Bruce Morgan’s 3Y0 Shadow Play - Lucky Bonus gelding Bonus Play is going from strength to strength and chalked up his 5th victory by taking the Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series Bronze Consolation over 2240 metres at Tabcorp Park Melton. With regular reinsman John Caldow in the sulky, Bonus Play led virtually throughout after going forward from outside the front line, toying with his rivals to register a 3.3 metre margin over Bettor Beau which trailed sticking to his guns well, with Delwyns Son third 26.4 metres back from a mid-field trip. The mile rate 1-55.
19th July: Stan Nedwell has had a sensational few weeks and was again a winner at Stawell, this time with 4Y0 Union Guy - Vital Lady gelding Bonza Guy in the Hygain Pak-Cell Pace for C0 class over 2180 metres. A winner at Kilmore last month by leading all of the way, Bonza Guy trained by Maree Caldow with husband John in the sulky, gave nothing else a chance after spearing to the front from gate four to register an easy 8.3 metre margin from Abstractor (one/one – three wide last lap) in 2-02.7. Samara Fury was third 3.5 metres away after racing wide
23rd July: Ian Kitchin was a winner at Cranbourne when the beautifully bred Shadow Play - Schonbrunn gelding Hector Macray scored in the Woodlands Stud 2Y0 Pace over 2080 metres. Trained at Myrniong by Jess and Greg Sugars, Hector Macray driven by Greg settled mid-field after starting from the extreme draw as Elsa Belle led from gate four. Going forward in the windy conditions at the halfway mark to race parked for the final circuit, Hector Macray was too strong for his rivals on turning, winning by a 2.9 metre margin over Mamas New Dude (one/three) and first starter Sportzscribe which trailed the weakening pacemaker after an unsuccessful bid for the front as the mobile pulled away. The mile rate 2-01.6
31st July: Peter Svanosio’s 4Y0 Bacardi Lindy - Puerto Bonus mare Nine Mile Cruiser trained and driven by son Chris snared the Jet Roofing Trotters Handicap over 2180 metres at Kilmore. Given a sweet passage from barrier four following the pacemaker Plumbers Petty Cash, Nine Mile Cruiser when eased off her back on straightening, put the race away in a couple of strides, careering away to score untouched by a 12.8 metre margin in 2-05.3.. Backmarker and favourite Ymbro Wasted was 12.5 metres away in third place after going off stride outside the leader prior to the home turn.