April Winning Post
A very quiet month for CC members with very few winners greeting the judge.
5th April Cranbourne: Peter Watkinson & Bruce Paul had a big day as breeders as 3 of their syndicate horses all secured wins during the meeting when Sahara Sirocco, Sahara Tigerr and Sahara Storm all won their respective races with Chris Alford driving the trio for Drouin co-trainers Gary & Debbie Quinalan.
Sahara Sirocco (Courage Under Fire-Sahara Miss) finished strongly from a one/one trip to land the 2080 Woodlands Stud Pace from Puntarno Stride which led and Arts Dash which trailed the pacemaker. The margins 6.9 X 6.3 metres in a mile rate of 1-59.6. Caduceus Club members in this syndicate with Peter & Bruce includes Peter Hornsby
Half brother Sahara Tiger (Art Major) ran home brilliantly from three back the markers to greet the judge in the Mark Gurry & Associates Pace over 2080 metres, accounting for the leader Jamieson Steele by 2.3 metres, with Peter Perfect using the sprint lane off the back of the leader to no avail third 2.2 metres away. The mile rate 1-58.6. Caduceus Club members in this syndicate with Peter & Bruce includes Peter Hornsby & Dale Montieth
2YO Sahara Storm filly (Captaintreacherous-Sahara Sunrise) led virtually throughout in the 1609 metre Hygain 2YO Pace, running out a 2.6 metre victor in 1-58.7 over Captain Maastricht which led out before taking a trail. Captain Bellasario was third 5 metres back, coming from last along the markers. Caduceus Club members in this syndicate with Peter includes Peter Hornsby, a group put together by Dale Montieth (Doutta Galla) and another group put together by Terry Suhan (THOB Group) so plenty of owners cheering her home!
8th April Kilmore: John and Christine Yeomans snared 1690 metre The Bendigo Club 3YO Pace for Fillies with Theultimate, a daughter of Art Major and Salix trained by John with the assistance of stable foreman Shane Gallagher. Driven by Chris Alford, Theultimate led throughout from gate three and despite being pressured by Atlantas in the last lap, kicked clear on turning to prevail by 1.6 metres from Celestia (one/two) which had every chance after dropping down to the sprint lane. Atlantas held down third 9.7 metres away. The mile rate 1-57.5.
12th April Cranbourne: Peter Svanosio and partners were successful with 4Y0 Orlando Vici-Bohemian Queen gelding Brandlo Prince in the Hygain Trotters Handicap over the staying trip of 2575 metres. First up for trainer son Chris, Brandlo Prince was having his first outing for 12 months and with Josh Duggan in the sulky, led throughout from the pole, defying all challengers to register a 17.8 metre margin in advance of Kyvalley Shaunie along the sprint lane from three back the markers returning a mile rate of 2-05.5. Robbie Royale (one/one) was third 5 metres back.
19th April Theultimate with Chris Alford again taking the reins brought up two wins in succession by taking the 2080 metre Mark Gurry & Associates 3Y0 Pace over 2080 metres. Starting from inside the second line, Theultimate was quickly away from the inside, going forward to assume control at the bell. From there on the race became a procession with Theultimate winning as he pleased by 8.9 metres from Cuzin Lyndal (one/two) and Priddy Artful who was 8.2 metres away in third place after racing exposed. The mile rate 2-00.7.
27th April Tabcorp Park Melto: John Hawke was a winner when 6Y0 Muscle Mass-Mystic Hush gelding Carnera returned to form when victorious in the Dynamic Print Group Trotters Handicap over 2200 metres, returning a mile rate of 2-04.7. Starting from 20 metres, Carnera trained and driven by Lance Justice settled at the tail of the field after starting from 20 metres after polemarker Argyle Melody pinged the tapes to lead. Set alight racing for the bell to park outside the pacemaker, Carnera raced to the front on turning, scoring by 2.6 metres in advance of the late finishing Celtic Rose (one/one last lap- three wide home turn). Meziah was third a nose away after following the weakening leader and moving to the back of the winner approaching the final bend. It was Carnera’s 11th success in 96 outings.
29th April Shepparton: Dennis Byce and partners shared in the ownership of 6Y0 Mach Three-Alta Vista gelding Alta Mach who snared the 1690 metre Alabar Pace. Despite raced uncovered, Rochester trainer/driver Shayne Eeles got the best out of the horse who was hard driven to gain the day by 1.6 metres from Benatar along the sprint lane after trailing the weakening leader Shez Elite, with Village Art (four wide home turn from last) third a half head away. The rate 2-00.9.
29th April Ballarat: Paul Rowse figured as a part-owner along with the Ballarat & District Trotting Club Standardbred Group of 5Y0 mare Betta Bopper (Betterthancheddar- C C Bopper) who scored in the BDTC 150 On Twitter Pace over 2200 metres. Trained at Bannockburn in partnership by Emmett and Richard Brosnan, Betta Bopper starting from inside the second line came away from four back the markers to race exposed outside Chief Safari for the final circuit. Pushed three wide on the final bend as Illawong Astro which had led out before surrendering to Chief Safari moved away from the markers made little difference to the result as Betta Bopper raced away in the wet conditions to score easily by 7.8 metres in 2-01.1 from Illawong Astro. Miss Dangerdield (one/two) was third 3 metres away.