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March Winning Post

5th March Tabcorp Park Melton: Georgina Coram’s exciting home bred and raced 5Y0 Majestic Son-Annika gelding Lunchwitharthur trained and driven by Euroa’s Cameron Maggs made it two from two this time in by narrowly taking the 2240 metre J & A Mazzetti Trotters Handicap. Stepping safely from 10 metres, Lunchwitharthur was given plenty of time to balance, settling at the tail of the main body of the field as Iona Spider was able to cross polemarker Girls Go First. Latching to the back of Scallywag Sam for a three wide trail home in the last lap, Lunchwitharthur when taken to the centre of the track on turning was nursed to the wire to score by a half head only in a thrilling finish from Scallywag Sam in a 2-03.4 mile rate. Iona Spider held down third 19.6 metres away. It was a great night for Georgie as she also is a member of the Cranbourne Club 21 syndicate which races Naked Ambition a filly by Andover Hall from Starcus trained by Dylan Stratford which scored in the 2240 metre CUB 3Y0 Trotters Mobile with Scott Ewen in the sulky.

6th March Mildura: Merv Butterworth’s 7Y0 Major In Art-Bonton Lady gelding Stroke Of Luck landed the feature event – the $10,000 Cavallaro Italian Cup over 1790 metres. Starting solo on the second line, Stroke Of Luck trained and driven by Kerryn Manning and racing under the banner of Butterworth Racing started solo on the second line and was soon travelling one/one after Penny Snatcher (gate two) and Augustus Jack (gate three) engaged in a war as the start was effected with Augustus Jack eventually winning out. Sent forward three wide in the final circuit, Stroke Of Luck joined Augustus Jack prior to the home turn gaining the upper hand shortly after. Appearing likely to score halfway up the running, Stroke Of Luck had to pull out all reserves to hold off Midura’s home town hero Murranji Track by a head in a brilliant rate of 1-55.8 which was 1.6 seconds outside Beachstar’s 1-54.2 set in 2016. Augustus Jack held down third 10.1 metres back.

6th March Mildura: Greg Bettiol’s home bred Art Major-Princess Cassi gelding Major Assassin was a huge victor of the 2190 metre Varapodio Estate Italian Pace. Trained by Grant Campbell, Major Assassin starting from gate three on the second line with Kerryn in the sulky after settling mid-field in the moving line went forward within a lap to park outside the pacemaker Smynanna Mickey. Despite the tough trip, Major Assassin bounded away prior to the home turn to score by 34 metres in a mile rate of 1-58.1 over Caulonia Terror (one/two) and Sheer Modern (three back the markers) who was 5.5 metres away in third place.

8th March Wangaratta: Fred Crews’ 7Y0 Lawman-Sundonna gelding Maori Law returned to the winners list when successful in the $14,500 Toil & Soil Wangaratta Trotters Cup over 2615 metres. Trained at Seymour by Bill Morgan and driven by Avenel’s Juanita Breen, Maori Law coming from a 30 metre equal backmark stepped cleanly to settle a long way back from the leader Gunning from barrier four. Gradually making ground to tack on the the main body of the field mid-race, Maori Law went forward three wide approaching the bell. Trapped wide for the remainder of the race, Maori Law surged to the front in the last lap to record a strong 14.8 metre victory over Gunning which fought on bravely, with Law Legend (three back the markers) running his usual honest race for third 2.6 metres away. The mile rate 2-04.9.

10th March Cranbourne: Peter Watkinson, Bruce Paul, & Peter Hornsby all shared in winners during the evening. The Gordon Lockman Memorial named in honour of the long time Cranbourne Club Secretary/Manager was the feature - the winner being the Gary & Debbie Quinlan trained in-form 3Y0 Courage Under Fire-Sahara Miss colt Sahara Sirocco. Driven by Chris Alford, Sahara Sirocco was restrained from gate five as the start was effected to settle at the tail of the field with last start Kilmore victor First And Erst retaining the inside running from the pole. Producing a lightning burst of speed racing for the bell to lead for the final circuit, Sahara Sirocco blitzed his rivals to record an untouched 9.2 metre margin from Ozzie Battler (one/one – three wide home turn), with Maxines Delight running home from last to be third 1.2 metres back. The mile rate 1-56.3.

10th March Cranbourne: Peter Watkinson, Bruce Paul, & Peter Hornsby and HRV Chairman Dale Monteith also snared the 2080 metre Hygain Pace with 4Y0 half brother (Art Major) Sahara Tiger returning a 2-00.9 rate. Receiving a sweet trip three back in the moving line racing for the bell, Sahara Tiger trailed the filly Millah Joy ahead of him forward in the last lap as Millah Joy joined the pacemaker Reclusive. With Millah Joy getting the upper hand in the straight, Sahara Tiger desperately driven by Alford gained a last stride victory to gain the day by a half head. Reclusive held down third 22.9 metres away.

11th March Geelong: Arcadia trainer Patrick Ryan was victorious with The Best Madrik-Lasting Beauty filly The Best Dream in the Yabby Dam Racing 3Y0 Trotters Mobile over 2100 metres much to the delight of owner Kevin Riseley. Racing under the banner of Sheron Park Pty Ltd, The Best Dream with Chris Alford in the sulky led throughout from gate six, easily accounting for Mollys Purse (gate five) which trailed by 6.2 metres, with Ofortuna a stablemate of the runner up third a head away after racing exposed from outside the front line for most of the race. The mile rate 2-01.9.

12th March Kilmore: The 2180 metre Bendigo Club Trotters Mobile went the way of Quaker Jet-Dizzyinterest filly Dizzysjet in a rate of 2-02.5 giving Kevin Riseley’s Sheron Park two wins in two days after The Best Dream had scored at Geelong the night before. Trained at Arcadia by Patrick Ryan, Dizzysjet with Chris Alford in the sulky led throughout from gate five to easily account for Vincent Kai (one/one) by 7.2 metres and Little Miss Chlo (three back the markers) who was third 5.2 metres away

13th March Shepparton: In what was a good month for Kevin Riseley, Quaker Jet-Win Winnie filly Cracker Jet led throughout from the pole with Kima Frenning in the sulky for Patrick Ryan ito land the Cottrell Electrical 3Y0 Pace over 2190 metres, accounting for Kyvalley Shawnie which moved to race uncovered at the bell after a bad beginning. First starter Twixten was third after trailing the winner. The margins 10.8 X 4.7 metres in a rate of 2-04.2.

The combination brought up a double when Somebeachsomewhere-Maid For You Lombo filly Starsbythebeach snared the 2190 metre Kath Muir Memorial 3Y0 Pace in a mile rate of 2-02.1. Driven by Chris Alford who wasted no time from the extreme draw to circle the field and race parked, Starsbythebeach just got there by a half head on the wire from the pacemaker Do Not Surrender, with Firerockfireroll third a metre away after racing wide from mid-field in the last lap.

Georgie Coram’s bred and raced very much in-form 5Y0 Majestic Son-Annika gelding Lunchwitharthur trained and driven by Euroa’s Cameron Maggs made it three from three this time in when successful in the Hunter Rural Trotters Handicap over 2190 metres. Beginning brilliantly from 20 metres, Lunchwitharthur spend most of the race three back in the moving line as Gatesys Alley also going for a hat-trick led from barrier two. Going forward with a rush in the final circuit to join the leader on the final bend, the pair went head and head to the wire with Lunchwitharthur recording a soft 1.4 metre margin. Col Du Galibier (20m) was third 1.5 metres back after following the winner all of the way. The mile rate 2-05 (last half 58.9 – quarter 30.6).

14th March Tabcorp Park Melton: Ian Kitchin’s home bred Sportswriter-Wya Mya Macray mare Larajay Macray raced in partnership with trainer Jess Tubbs led all of the way from gate two in the Melton Toyota Vicbred Pace over 1720 metres. With Greg Sugars in the sulky, Larajay Macray was rated to perfection, defying all challengers to record a 5.5 metre margin over Byalla Boy (three wide last lap from mid-field, with Madame Annie third 1.9 metres back after racing in the open. The mile rate 1-55.6.

15th March Charlton: Rob Auber and partners tasted success when their home bred 4Y0 Sportswriter-Tayarna Miss mare Mona Mia led throughout from gate three in the Alabar Vicbred Platinum Mares Sprint Championship (Heat 13) over 1609 metres. Driven by Michael Bellman for Bolinda trainer Kari Males, Mona Mia was never in any danger, coasting to the wire 5..3 metres in advance of a death-seating Tina Calls in 1-54.2. Athlone was third 8.1 metres back after trailing the winner.

Fred Crews and partners were winners when highly rated 4Y0 Mach Three-Aleppo Heiress entire Fourbigmen was successful in the $35.000 (Group 3) Charlton & District Community Bank 2020 Charlton Pacing Cup over 2570 metres. Trained by Emma Stewart and driven by Greg Sugars, Fourbigmen starting from gate four was able to cross Blissful Stride running into the first turn and once at the head of affairs always looked the one to beat. Given full rein on turning, Fourbigmen ran out an easy 3.4 metre victor from stablemate Born To Rocknroll (one/one), with the favourite Pat Stanley 1.5 metres away in third place after moving to face the breeze mid-race. The mile rate 1-56.9 (last half 55.2 – quarter 28.1).

17th March Terang: Greg Bettiol’s in-form 5Y0 Art Major-Princess Cassi made a one act affair of the feature of the night – the $12,000 Gammalite Cup over 2180 metres named in honour of the home town hero of the past .Trained by Grant Campbell and driven by wife Kerryn Manning, Major Assassin flew away from gate four to lead and coasted at the head of affairs, giving his rivals the slip on the final bend to win in a breeze by 9.8 metres in a rate of 1-57.9 from Jilliby Madonna which raced exposed, with The Cullector a half neck back in third place off a three wide trail last lap.

20th March Maryborough: Fred Crews and partners landed another winner when Pegasus Spur-Sueno gelding Dels Destiny trained and driven by Chris Svanosio led throughout from barrier four to land the Maryborough & District Advertiser 3Y0 Trotters Handicap over 2190 metres. Always in control, Dels Destiny greeted the judge 5 metres clear of Belmac Bambi which trailed returning a mile rate of 2-09.3. Wilcannia (four back the markers) was third 14.9 metres away.

21st March Melton: Peter Watkinson, Bruce Paul, Peter Hornsby, Dale Monteith and partners notched up another victory with 4Y0 Art Major-Sarah Miss gelding Sahara Tiger when successful in the 2240 metre Builders Acadamy Pace. Trained by Gary & Deb Quinlan, Sahara Tiger with regular reinsman Chris Alford in the sulky came with a barnstorming finish out wide from mid-field to record a 4.1 metre margin in 1-56.3 over the leader Pirate Bay which overraced with a gear problem, with Iconic Major third a head away off a three wide trail from mid-field.

30th March Cranbourne: In what was a super month for Peter Watkinson, & Peter Hornsby and partners, well educated first starter Sahara Storm landed the Decron 2Y0 Pace over 1609 metres. Trained by Gary & Deb Quinlan,at Drouin and driven by Chris Alford, Sahara Storm a daughter of Captaintreacherous and Sahara Sunrise led easily from the pole to run out a 6.3 metre victor over another first starter Sebs Choice (four back the markers at bell) which ran home strongly. One Bettor was third 9.5 metres away after trailing the winner. The mile rate 1-58.1.

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