August Winning Post

1st Aug Horsham: Terang’s Marg and Jason Lee were victorious with consistent 5Y0 Rocknroll Hanover - Cultured Lombo entire Small Town in the 2200 metre Decron Horse Care Pace at Horsham to the delight of Paul Rowse and partners. Spearing to the front from gate four, Small Town led throughout, defeating Starlight Rainbow and Marjorie Jean in a rate of 1-57.6. The margins 10.5 X 1.5 metres.

2nd Aug Maryborough: Day one of the Redwood Carnival was held at Maryborough on Friday and 6Y0 Bacardi Lindy - Cloud Chaser gelding Cruisin Around raced by Rob Molloy, Bill Hutchison and Robert Blanche was responsible for a great performance to land the Maryborough District Advertiser Trotters Handicap over 2690 metres. Now in the care of Brent Lilley at Bolinda, Cruisin Around (Chris Alford) was tardily away from 10 metres settling a long way back in the field as Ymbro Wasted led from barrier two. Going off stride in the first lap, Cruisin Around appeared to have put himself out of business, but recovered to be one/one at the bell trailing Father Christmas. Easing wide on straightening, Cruisin Around finished best to blouse Ymbro Wasted by a head, with Kyvalley Barney 2.1 metres away in third place after trailing the leader and using the sprint lane to no avail. The mile rate 2-02.6.

2nd Aug Mildura: Ian Kitchin and Ken Adams were winners when Shadow Play - Schonbrunn gelding Hector Macray (Zac Phillips) led throughout from gate two in the JA Mazzetti Painting Contractors 3Y0 Pace over 2190 metres. Trained by Jess Tubbs in Myrniong, Hector Macray was kept honest all through the race by Caulonia Terror (gate 5) outside him. Holding a slight margin on turning, Hector Macray looked the winner all the way down the straight, however Caulonia Terror which kept on giving made a lunge right on the wire to make it interesting. In a tricky finish, Hector Macray held on by a nose in a rate of 2-00.7. Azzgoodazz was third 2.5 metres away after trailing the winner.

8th Aug Hamilton: Paul Rowse’s Small Town chalked up another success when greeting the judge in the LK Earthmovers Pace over 1660 metres. Again with Jason Lee in the sulky, Taken off the gate from outside the front line, Small Town ran home strongly to register a 1.6 metre margin in advance of Goodtime Junior which led, with Onthecrestofawave third 1.5 metres away after following the winner home. The mile rate 1-55.4.

8th Aug Kilmore: Ian Kitchin’s Larajay Macray, a daughter of Sportswriter - Way Mya Macray raced in partnership with trainer Jess Tubbs, led throughout from the pole to snare the 1st Heat of the Woodlands Stud Breeders Crown Series 21 for 3Y0 Fillies over 2180 metres in very cold and wet conditions. Driven by Greg Sugars, Larajay Macray easily accounted for a death-seating Our Road To Mecca which raced outside her by 3.5 metres in 2-05.1. Itzamajor Surprise (four back the markers) was third 2.5 metres away.

10th Aug TP Melton: John & Christine Yeomans’ beautifully bred Bettors Delight - Life Inthefastlane filly Its Beaujolais was a most impressive victor of the 1720 metre Woodlands Stud 2Y0 Pace. Trained by John assisted by Shane Gallagher, Its Beaujolais speared out to lead from gate five and despite being pressured by the hot favourite Pradason outside her, bounded clear on straightening to score by 15.1 metres in a rate of 1-56.3 over Pradason, with Jaeden running on late from the rear for third 3 metres back.

10th Aug TP Melton: Steve Warren hold a share in Kiwi bred 6Y0 Art Major - Shortys Girl gelding Shortys Mate which was a big winner of the Melton Toyota Pace over 1720 metres. Trained and driven by Glenn Douglas, Shortys Mate starting outside the front line settled mid-field in the moving line as Our Jimmie led from gate two. Commencing a forward move three wide solo in the final circuit, Shortys Mate hard driven finished over the top of his rivals to register a strong 1.3 metre margin in 1-53.1 over Shelby Bromac along the sprint lane after trailing the leader. Rocknroll Icon the raging favourite was third 3.6 metres away after being driven hard from the tail to obtain the death-seat at the bell.

14th Aug Ararat: Merv Butterworth’s impressive 3Y0 McArdle - Trevi Bromac gelding Steam Punk racing under the banner of Butterworth Racing Syndicate, treated his rivals with contempt when taking the 1790 metre TAB Pace in a mile rate of 1-59.5. Trained and driven by Kerryn Manning, Steam Punk spent most of the race mid-field as polemarker Marjorie Jean led. Despite making the final bend four wide, Steam Punk charged down the centre of the track to register a runaway 6.9 metre margin over Witzend along the sprint lane off the leader’s back, with All Starzzz Megan (one/two) third 3.9 metres away.

20th Aug Terang: Greg Bettiol’s home bred Grinfromeartoear - Adams Sister 4Y0 gelding Grinning Assassin was a convincing winner of the Silvan Ridge Business Investors Pace over 2180 metres. First up from a short break, Grinning Assassin trained by Grant Campbell and driven by Kerryn Manning led throughout from gate three to record a 17.1 metre margin over Creative Lad (one/one) and Our Supreme Girl which trailed the runner up. The mile rate 2-03.4.

21st Aug Maryborough: Merv Butterworth’s Steam Punk recorded another easy victory when successful in the 2190 metre McPhersons Printing Group Pace. Driven by Kerryn, Steam Punk was given an easy time from gate three at the head of affairs, not being pushed out to score by 2.2 metres in advance of Shesa Tricky Bridge which raced exposed and Irish Player (one/one) in a mile rate of two minutes even.

24th Aug TP Melton: The tears were flowing freely with emotion at the highest level after 7Y0 Ponder - Wya Mya Macray gelding Tee Cee Bee Macray was victorious in the Always B Miki Breeders Crown Graduation Cup over 1720 metres much to the delight of breeder Ian Kitchin and Ken Adams who race the horse in partnership with trainer Jess Tubbs and Boris Salivin. Given every opportunity by Greg Sugars one/one from gate 4, Tee Cee Bee Macray when extricated three wide on the final bend, ran home strongly to record a 3.6 metre margin over Laredo Torpedo which followed him all the way in a slick 1-53.2 mile rate. Leader Kasbah Kid was 3rd a half neck away. It was Tee Cee Bee’s first success since winning at the same track back in August 2017.

25th Aug Cranbourne: Fred Crews shared in a winner when Bettors Delight - Splendid Dreams gelding Ultimate Me snared the Hygain 3Y0 Pace over 2080 metres. Trained by Brent Lilley and driven by Chris Alford, Ultimate Me settled just off the speed from gate five before going off stride on the first turn as Raffas Ace led from gate two. Regaining his gate shortly after, Ultimate Me hit full speed to assume control with a lap to travel. Travelling kindly, Ultimate Me kicked clear on turning, but got very tired over the concluding stages to score by a half neck over Raffas Ace which moved off his back halfway up the running, with Famous Three (four back the markers) using the sprint lane for third 2.3 metres back. The mile rate 2-01.5.

26th August Horsham: Club members Rob Merola, John Hawke, Sam Godino, Bob Willis and Merv Butterworth were all winners during the afternoon at the popular venue, two involving trainer/driver Lance Justice. Sew What a home bred daughter of Western Terror and Sewinyaface raced by long time associates Merola, Hawke and Godino landed the Nats Rugs & Harness Horse Of The Year Award 2Y0 Pace over 1700 metres. Showing exceptional speed to lead from gate six, Sew What jumped an object on the track running into the first turn allowing Indigo Dancer to cross her. Regaining her gait very quickly, Sew What enjoyed a sweet passage following the leader and finished full of running along the sprint lane to record a 2.5 metre margin (her first in 13 outings) over a death-seating Rosarito Miss, with Indigo Dancer holding down third 2.6 metres away. The mile rate 1-59.6.

Bob Willis’ home bred 4Y0 Shadow Play - Our Waltzing Mathilds mare Miss Victoria raced in partnership with wife Mary, was meritorious in the 2200 metre Decron Horse Care Pace after working hard from gate four to head off Extra in the back straight on the first occasion. Defying all challengers on turning Miss Victoria scored by 1.5 metres in a mile rate of 2-00.9 from Greg Bettiol’s Grinning Assassin (three wide solo last lap from near last). The Big Show came from the rear to finish third 1.4 metres back.

Merv Butterworth’s Kiwi bred Sundon - Geena Hest gelding Mr Sundon returned to his best with a striking victory in the Cruisers Car Wash Horsham Local Trainer Award Trotters Handicap over 2200 metres. Trained by Grant Campbell with wife Kerryn Manning taking the drive, Mr Sundon starting from a daunting 50 metre backmark gradually made ground through the middle stages to tack on, moving to be three back in the moving line racing for the bell as Penelope led from barrier five. Extricated wide on straightening, Mr Sundon produced an electrifying burst of speed to register a runaway 5.8 metre margin over Penelope in a 2-04.4 rate. Honey Please was third 3.5 metres away after following the leader when jumping to the front as the tapes released.

27th August Geelong: Doreen owners John and Christine Yeomans were successful with Art Major - Salix filly Theultimate in the 2100 metre 2Y0 Breeders Crown Fillies section. Trained by John, Theultimate driven by Gavin Lang ran home strongly three wide solo from mid-field to prevail by a neck from La La Bron along the sprint lane after trailing the pacemaker Im Delightful which was third 2.8 metres away. The mile rate two minutes even.