May Winning Post

2nd May Tabcorp Park Melton: 4YO gelding Good Guy Mac (Art Major - Bella Aurora) scored again for Rob Auber and partners, taking the 1720 metre $7,000 Woodlands Stud Pace Final for C1 class. Settling mid-field in the moving line after starting from the extreme draw, Good Guy Mac ran home stylishly on straightening for Zac Phillips, defeating the pacemaker Artchiever Chapel by 3.9 metres in a rate of 1-56.3. Fly Cheval was third a neck away after trailing the leader and easing wide on turning.

7th May Geelong: Peter Svanosio’s 4Y0 Angus Hall-Yankee Princess mare Severe Storm led throughout to land the DNR Logistics Trotters Mobile for T0 class over 2100 metres. Allowed to bowl along at her leisure from gate five for traineer/driver Chris Svanosio, Severe Storm just lasted by a half neck from Sonny Brooke(one/one last lap – three wide home turn) and Mah Mukker which made up many yards after being a long way back following an early break. The mile rate 2-05.2.

9th May Maryborough: Ian Kitchin’s home bred Sportswriter - Wya Mya Macray filly Larajay Macray raced in partnership with co-trainer Jess Tubbs, led throughout from outside the front line with Greg Sugars in the sulky to account for Soundslikeart (one/one) by 1.1 metres in 1-59.7. Go Go Jolt used the sprint lane from three back the markers for third 8.6 metres away.

11th May Menangle (NSW): Carol Bass and Ruth Risstrom are members of a syndicate that race 4Y0 Somebeachsomewhere - Special Rose gelding Prestonpans which led throughout from gate eight to land the 1609 metre Ainsworth Game Technology Pace. Trained by Tim Butt and driven by brother Anthony, Prestonspans scored by 2.7 metres from Miss Riviera Belle and Du Vella in a slashing mile rate of 1-50.8.

15th May Terang: Greg Bettiol’s home bred 4Y0 Courage Under Fire - Dundee Hanover mare Costly Assassin snared the Murfett & Whiting Pace for C0 class over 1680 metres in a mile rate of 1-58.7. Trained at Great Western by Grant Campbell and Kerryn Manning, Costly Assassin driven by Kerryn starting inside the second row, was quickly away from the markers to possie three back in running line as Fire Official led from gate three. Commencing a forward move three wide solo in the last lap, Costly Assassin pounced on the leader Last Walk which had taken over before the final bend on turning and raced away to easily prevail by 10.1 metres over Leica Gem which followed her home. Last Walk held down third 1.2 metres back.

16th May Ballarat: Fred Crews shared in a winner when Art Major - The Waratah colt Mirragon trained by Emma Stewart scored in the 1st Heat of the Empire Stallions Vicbred Platinum Home Grown Classic for Two Year Old Colts & Geldings over 1710 metres. With Greg Sugars in the sulky, Mirragon was trapped wide from gate five before going forward to park outside his stablemate Pandering. Proving too strong at the finish, Mirragon registered a tough 1.4 metre margin over the leader, with Kowalski Analysis a nose back in third place after trailing the pacemaker. The mile rate 1-56.3.

Merv Butterworth was also a Ballarat winner with ex-Kiwi 4Y0 American Ideal - Caribbean Blue gelding Yankee Lincoln trained by Kerryn Manning and driven by Grant Campbell leading throughout to land the 2200 metre Freemans Transport Pace for C3 & C4 class. Rated to perfection with no pressure being applied, Yankee Lincoln safely held all challengers at bay, scoring by a half neck from Bayview Bondi which trailed in 1-58.4. Mallee Reactor was 2.9 metres away in third place off a one/one trip.

21st May Shepparton: Kevin Riseley’s Somebeachsomwhere-Maid For You Lombo filly Starsbythebeach was strong winner of the Shepparton BMW 2Y0 Pace over 2190 metres in a 2-03.5 mile rate. Trained locally by Patrick Ryan, Starsbythebeach driven by David Moran settled mid-field in the moving line and after going forward three wide prior to the home turn, finished her race off well to record a 9.4 metre victor over the leader Shaq which had every possible chance after receiving no pressure. Feeling Energetic was third 6.9 metres back after trailing the winner.

22nd May Maryborough: Phil Walshe and Peter Judd’s fully American bred Yankee Glide-Fashion Tango 6Y0 mare Argentine Tango scored in the T1 or better class Happy 80th Mick Clover Trotters Handicap over 2190 metres for Alison & Chris Alford in a rate of 2-03. stepping safely but slowly from barrier five, Alford kept wide allowing her to find her rhythm. Once balanced, the mare was sent forward to park outside the pacemaker Eoghan OMaille where she controlled the race. Dashing to the front on the final bend, Argentine Tango ran to the wire stylishly in a tough performance to register a 1.9 metre margin over Trotting Rockstar from mid-field, with Coimadai Lodge 13.3 metres away in third place after trailing the weakening leader.

Rob Auber was also a Maryborough winner when home bred Sportswriter-Tayarna Mia filly Mona Mia snared the 1690 metre Crameri Exoirt Quality Chaff 3YO Pace. Trained by Kari Males at Bolinda and driven by Zac Phillips, Mona Mia from inside the second line spent most of the race three back along the markers as Bulldog Macray led from gate five. Extricated away from the inside in the back straight with a wall of horses in front of her, Mona Mia was inconvenienced in the straight when Rock On Shadow went off stride. Taken to the extreme outside, the filly sprouted wings to register a neck margin over Out To Play which raced wide in the last lap, with Make Haste 7.6 metres away in third place after racing uncovered. The mile rate 1-57.9.

25th May Tabcorp Park Melton: Fred Crews’ Art Major-The Waratah colt Mirragon produced another tough performance to land the $50,000 2Y0 C & G Empire Stallions Vicbred Final over 1720 metres in a rate of 1-57 on a rain effected track. Settling a long way back from gate three on the second line, Greg Sugars commenced a three wide forward move racing for the bell to park outside stablemate Pandering. Asked for an effort on turning, Mirragon put pay to his rivals in a couple of bounds, racing away to prevail by 3.6 metres over Withoutthetuh (one/one), with Pandering holding down third a half neck away.

25th May Tabcorp Menangle: Another victory (No 26) came the way of John Dorrington’s home bred Courage Under Fire-Pareen 6Y0 gelding Smokey Quartz who scored in the Seppelt Marquee Sunday June 30th Pace over 2300 metres. Leading out from gate two before surrendering to Gotta Go Henry, Smokey Quartz trained on the track by KerryAnn Turner and driven by husband Robbie Morris when eased off the back of the leader on straightening, ran home to gain the day by 1.3 metres from the fast finishing Jakes Sportswriter and Uncle Jay returning a mile rate of 1-56.6.

30th May Maryborough: The North West AG Services Trotters Mobile for T2 to T4 class over 2190 metres was a thriller, with Ararat Trotters Cup winner Stress Factor prevailing by a nose over the in-form Kyvalley Finn much to the delight of part-owner Fred Crews. Trained by Brent Lilley at Bolinda, Stress Factor a 4Y0 Majestic Son-Fear Factor gelding with Chris Alford holding the reins, led throughout from gate four to just hold off Kyvalley Finn (gate 3) from a mid-field passage in a rate of 2-07.3. Ball Park (gate 6) which trailed the winner was 6.9 metres back in third place.