July Winning Post

1st July TP Melton: Brian Glasheen’s home bred Betterthancheddar-Bit Of A Gem gelding Cheddar Road was successful in the Garrards @ Melton 3Y0 Pace over 1720 metres. Trained locally at Bacchus Marsh by Phil Chircop, Cheddar Road with Craig Demmler in the sulky, led throughout from gate two, hitting the wire 1.6 metres in advance of Jessies Girl which trailed using the sprint lane to no avail, with Major Comment (one/three-three wide home turn) third 1.3 metres away. The mile rate 1-58.9.

4th July Horsham: Merv Butterworth’s Kiwi import Steam Punk first up in Oz landed the Always B Miki @ Alabar Pace over 2200 metres. Trained and driven by Kerryn Manning, Steam Punk a 3Y0 McArdle-Trevi Bromac gelding was taken back from gate four to settle mid-field, before going forward to race exposed at the bell. Surging clear on the final bend, Steam Punk scored easily by 8.7 metres over Deedenuto (one/three) and Glamors Symbol which followed the weakening leader Girls In Charge. The mile rate 2-01.

Greg Bettiol’s home bred Courage Under Fire-Dundee Hanover 5Y0 gelding Deadly Assassin chalked up another victory by taking the 1700 metre Lattanzios Pace for N56+ class. Driven by Kerryn for husband Grant Campbell, Deadly Assassin starting from the extreme draw, Deadly Assassin was eased to the rear of the field as Miss Atlanta led from the pole. Commencing a forward move three wide uncovered in the final circuit, Deadly Assassin was much too strong for his rivals, registering a 4 metre margin over They Wanano which raced parked in a rate of 1-56.8. Christmas Jolt was third 3.2 metres back after following the winner home.

8th July Maryborough: Rob Molloy and Robert Blanch’s 4Y0 Yeild Boko-Aldebaran Queenie 4Y0 mare Flyin Around snared The VSTA Trotters Mobile for N30 to N51 class over 2190 metres for Daylesford’s Anne-Maree Conroy. Having just returned to the Conroy stable, Flyin Around driven by brother Glenn was eased from inside the second line to possie at the rear. Moving forward stylishly three wide in the final circuit, Flyin Around ran to the wire impressively to score by an easy 6.7 metre margin over the favourite Majestic Pinevale (one/one – four wide home turn) in a rate of 2-04.9. Bad Boy Leroy was third 4.8 metres back after racing exposed for the last lap.

9th July TP Melton: Rob Auber and partners were victorious with home bred Sportswriter-Tayarna Mia filly Mona Mia in the Vincent Vicbred Super Series Silver Pace over 2240 metres. Trained at Bolinda by Paul Males, Mona Mia with Zac Phillips in the sulky, led throughout from gate two, just lasting by a head over the fast finishing Our Road To Mecca (one/three-three wide home turn) in 1-58.9. Causin Strife which trailed the winner was a neck away in third place after using the sprint lane.

11th July Swan Hill: Merv Butterworth’s Steam Punk made a one act affair of the DNR Logistics Pace for NR52+ class over 1750 metres for Kerryn Manning. Taken back from outside the front line at the start to settle at the tail of the field as Monash (gate three) led. Steam Punk was sent forward three wide at the bell to race exposed for the final circuit before cruising to the front on the final bend to win in a breeze, 3.8 metres in advance of Mornings which followed her home after racing in the open for the first lap, with Village Art 3.7 metres away in third place after trailing the weakening pacemaker. The mile rate 1-58.2.

Greg Bettiol’s Deadly Assassin was too tough for his rivals in the 1750 metre NR 62+ Pace. Taken back to the rear from gate six by Kerryn, Deadly Assassin commenced a forward move racing for the bell to park outside the leader Fourstarzzzspecial getting there very easily. Gaining the upper hand on straightening, Deadly Assassin scored narrowly but well over the pacemaker by 1-9 metres in a rate of 1-56.2. Manassa Sky (three back the markers) was third 2.4 metres back.

13th July TP Melton: Rob Auber and partners were again winners when 6Y0 Rocknroll Hanover-Bella Aurora gelding Rockabella Starz scored in the 3rd Heat of the 1700 metre IRT Australia Winer Championship (3rd heat) for NR70+. Driven by Zac Phillips for Kari Males, Rockabella Starz led throughout from gate two, giving plenty on reaching the wire to prevail by a half head from a sprint laning NSW visitor Rusty Crackers which trailed in 1-57.9. Spinners Boy was a half head away third after racing in the open.

14th July Warragul: Terry Suhan and Len Petch’s Somebeachsomewhere-Resonanti gelding Glenledi Boy was victorious in the National Trainer & Driver Memorial 3Y0 Pace over 1790 metres. Trained locally at Drouin by Gary & Deb Quinlan, Glenledi Boy despite racing in the open, was too strong at the finish for the leader Reign Maker, winning by 7.6 metres in a rate of 2-03.9. Greshar was third 5.2 metres away after coming from the tail of the field.

15th July Maryborough: Kevin Riseley enjoyed a profitable day at Maryborough after winning a double on the program with The Best Dream and Starsbythebeach, both trained at Arcacia by Patrick Ryan who combined with Chris Alford on both occasions. The Best Dream a daughter of The Best Madrik and Lasting Beauty snared the 2190 metre DNR Logistics 2Y0 Maiden Trotters Mobile. Restrained from outside the front line to settle five back the markers, Alford angled the filly away from the inside mid-race to park exposed racing for the bell. Striding effortlessly to the front in the last lap when Kyvalley Surfrider galloped, The Best Dream reached the wire 16.1 metres in advance of Quake Proof which held his ground after always being handy. Speedway Queen was third 6.2 metres back after following the runner up. The mile rate 2-05.

Somebeachsomewhere - Maid For You Lombo filly Starsbythebeach captured the Colin & Margaret Ford Memorial 2Y0 Pace over 2190 metres by an easy 10.1 metres from Highclere and Naamark in a 2-01 rate. Eased from gate three, Starsbythebeach was off and running when the speed slackened to stride past the leader Naamark and that was the end of the race as she toyed with her rivals. Highclere used the sprint lane from three back the markers for second blousing Naamark by a neck.

16th July Shepparton: Dennis Bice would have been all smiles when Pet Rock-My Little Black Dress gelding Rocking Bugatti which he bred, scored in the DNR Logistics 3Y0 Pace over 2190 metres at Shepparton. Trained and driven by Chris Svanosio, Rocking Bugatti was restrained from outside the front line, before going forward to park outside the leader Diesel Don. Finding plenty when required to do so at the straight entrance, Rocking Bugatti scored by 1.1 metres in 1-58.2 over Major Comment and Puntarno Stride third.

Rocking Bugatti won again at Ballarat on July 26.

17th July Geelong: Sam Godino was in the winners stall when 7Y0 The Pres-Howz Lucky gelding Primz Luck led all of the way from gate five in the Devcon Properties Trotters Mobile over 2100 metres. Trained and driven by Kyneton’s Tony Xiriha, Primz Luck careered away on the final bend to score by 18.2 metres in advance of Its Not Dark Yet which galloped over the concluding stages when issuing a challenge. Maori Amour was third a head away after a mid-field passage. The mile rate 2-04.2.

19th July Bendigo: Bob Willis’ speedy Shadow Play-Our Waltzing Mathilda mare Miss Victoria showed plenty of heart to land the 1650 metres Schweppes Pace in a mile rate of 1-56.2. Driven by Rod Petroff for trainer Lance Justice, Miss Victoria went forward from gate four, but was unable to head off Tiza Nightmare inside her, leaving her posted. Applying the pressure on the final bend to take a narrow lead, Miss Victoria was challenged strongly by Endorsement on straightening with the pair going head and head to the wire, however hard driven, Miss Victoria refused to give in, scoring by a half head in 1-56.2. Our Pontiac was third 2.5 metres back after trailing the winner throughout. It was Miss Victoria’s 5th success in 65 outings.

20th July TP Melton: Peter Watkinson, Bruce Paul and Peter Hornsby received the thrill of a lifetime when their Courage Under Fire - Sahara Mill colt Sahara Sirocco greeted the judge in the $50,000 (Group 2) APG Championship for Two Year Old Colts & Geldings over 1720 metres. Trained at Drouin by Gary & Deb Quinlan, Sahara Sirocco was given a sweet trip from gate four three back in the moving line by Chris Alford as Aishabeach led from barrier three with the hot favourite Mirragon going forward from outside the front line to race outside him. When Mirragon went for home on turning, Sahara Sirocco gave chase and finishing brilliantly, raced clear to prevail by a runaway 8 metres, with Yourshoutrocky third 6 metres away after being momentarily held up on the back of the weakening leader. The mile rate 1-53.8.

24th July Kilmore: Rob Merola was a winner when speedy Lance Justice trained and driven 5Y0 Somebeachsomwhere-Star Art gelding Beach Skipper gave a bold front running display from gate five to land the North Central Review Pace over 2180 metres, reaching the wire 2.1 metres in advance of Betterman Stride which raced exposed, with Blissful Mind (one/one) third 1.1 metres back in third place. The mile rate 2-02.8.

30th July Menangle (NSW): John Dorrington’s recent Kiwi purchase Peraki Lincoln, a 4Y0 Lincoln Royal-Lavish Lil gelding landed the Lazarus Standing At Yirribee Pace over 1609 metres. Making his second appearance on Australian soil (second a week earlier), Peraki Lincoln trained by KerryAnn Morris and driven by husband Robbie, led virtually throughout from gate five, defeating Modern Metropolis which trailed and Typhoon Stride from the rear in a mile rate of 1-53.7. The margins 3 metres by a half neck.