May Winning Post

6th May Ballarat: Peter Judd was victorious with fully American bred Captaintreacherous-Beninjurd filly Tough Tilly which made her race debut in the Ballarat Mazda 2Y0 Pace over 1710 metres. Racing under the banner of Benstud Standarbreds, Tough Tilly trained by Emma Stewart and driven by Kate Gath was restrained at the start was effected from gate four before going forward to park outdide the leader Act Now, a stablemate of the winner also making his first race appearance. Knuckling down in great style in the straight, Tough Tilly was very strong at the finish, scoring by 5.6 metres over the pacemaker in a rate of 1-56.7. Platinum Sparkle another stablemate was third a half neck away after leading out and taking a trail.

7th May Bendigo: Steve Warren’s part-owned Kiwi bred 7Y0 Christian Cullen-The High Life gelding The High Roller returned to the winners list by taking the 1650 metre Central Victorian Fencing Pace. Driven with aggression by trainer/driver Glenn Douglas from gate three to lead, The High Roller gave plenty in the straight to defy all challengers, scoring by 3.6 metres in a rate of 1-56 over Karlos which trailed after leading out from the pole, with Goodtime Rusty third a half neck back after following the pair.

7th May Kilmore: Highly promising Muscle Hill-Zoia Boko colt Aldebaran Zeus raced by Aldebaran Lodge Pty Ltd and partners and trained by Brent Lilley made a one act affair of the Fiberprotect From Hygain 2Y0 Trotters Handicap over 2150 metres. Stepping cleanly from ten metres, Alford wasted no time in sending Aldebaran Zeus forward avoiding several gallopers to take over within a couple of hundred metres. Allowed to run, Aldebaran Zeus opened up a huge margin on his rivals with stablemate Here Comes Kyvalley doing all the chasing behind him. Never looking in any danger, Aldebaran Zeus coasted to the wire 39.3 metres in advance of Here Comes Kyvalley which held down second 38.8 metres clear of Whos The Man (four back the markers – one/one at bell). The mile rate 2-06.5.

9th May Tabcorp Park Melton: Fred Crews and partners tasted success when 3Y0 Art Major-The Waratah colt Mirragon led throughout to land the Breckon Farms Pace over 2240 metres. Taking a concession for youthful Connor Clarke, Mirragon exploded away from gate five to lead throughout, returning a mile rate of 1-59.9 in defeating Purr Dan which trailed by 3.7 metres. Im A Denny Too was third 9.1 metres away after racing in the open.

10th May Stawell: Merv Butterworth scored a double with very smart 4Y0 McArdle-Trevi Bromac gelding Steam Punk second up since August last year taking the Woodlands Stud Pace over 1785 metres and 3Y0 Bettors Delight - Silksngems gelding Motu Tigers Eye the West Side Horsham Pace over the same journey. Steam Punk trained and driven by Kerryn Manning moved forward from the tail in the last lap and although wide on the final bend, motored to the wire to easily account for Eastbro Jessie which used the sprint lane off the back of the weakening leader John Richard by 10 metres. Frankntank was third 1.7 metres away after a mid-field trip. The mile rate 2-01. Motu Tigers Eye trained by Ashleigh Herbertson at Lexton and driven by son James raced parked for the last lap and in a slugging finish, prevailed by a half head from the leader Jackierabbitm with Rollova third 6 metres back. The mile rate 2-00.5.

12th May Shepparton: Kevin Riseley’s lovely 4Y0 Muscle Hill-Fullonluck gelding All The Muscles racing in the name of Sheron Park Pty Ltd, landed the Saddleworld Shepparton Trotters Mobile over 2190 metres. Trained by Patrick Ryan and driven by David Moran, All The Muscles settled three back in the moving line after starting inside the second row. Moving forward three wide to sit outside the leader The Majestic for the final circuit, All The Muscles surged to the front prior to the home turn and was too tough over the concluding stages, defeating Prettylilangeleyes (one/two last lap – outside winner home turn) by 15.3 metres, with Bro Creed (four back the markers) third 4.1 metres away. The mile rate 2-03.1.

13th May Kilmore: Bill Hutchison, Rob Molloy, Robert Blanche and partners shared in the ownership of former Breeders Crown victor Cruisin Around who returned to form when successful in the O.K.T – 98.3 FM Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres. Trained by Brent Lilley at Bolinda and driven by Ross Payne, Cruisin Around a 7Y0 Bacardi Lindy-Cloud Chaser gelding was driven a treat and after moving three wide in the early stages, dropped into a one/one spot mid-race. Easing wide on turning, Cruisin Around finished full of running to record a 1.4 metre margin over the pacemaker Anywhere Hugo and Royal Charlotte which trailed the leader. The mile rate 2-03.6.

15th May Shepparton: Cracker Jet made it two wins in three days for Kevin Riseley after winning the Saddleworld Shepparton Trotters Handicap over 2190 metres. Driven on this occasion by Josh Aiken, Cracker Jet ran home solidly from mid-field in the running line to record a 2.9 metre margin over Starlight Red which led, with Caprioska (one/one) third 11.3 metres away. The rate 2-06.4.

23rd May Tabcorp Park Melton: John Hawke’s honest 6Y0 Muscle Mass-Mystic Hush gelding Carnera scored a surprise victory in the 2240 metre Woodlands Stud Trotters Mobile. Trained and driven by Lance Justice, Carnera began best to lead from gate before surrendering to Orlando Storm (gate five) receiving the run of the race. Easing three wide on the final bend, Carnera ran home best to gain the day by 1.7 metres in a mile rate of 2-02 from Classy Lola which raced exposed for the final circuit, with Orlando Storm giving ground to finish third 4.5 metre back.

24th May Terang: Merv Butterworth’s smart Kiwi bred Lincoln Royal-Crush gelding Rupert Of Lincoln first up since winning the Gunbower Cup in December was a big victor of the Goodtime Lodge Pace over 2180 metres. Trained and driven by Kerryn Manning, Rupert Of Lincoln racing under the banner of Butterworth Racing Syndicate was restrained from outside the front line to settle three back in the moving line as polemarker Keayang Liberty led. Coming with a late finish, Rupert Of Lincoln bloused stablemate Yankee Lincoln raced by the same connections by 2.4 metres in a two minute even mile rate, with Crime Writer a game third 1.1 metres away after racing uncovered.

27th May Tabcorp Park Melton: Prominent breeder Ian Kitchin was victorious when the Jess Tubbs and Greg Sugars co-trained 4Y0 Shadow Play-Schonbrunn gelding Hector Macray greeted the judge in the Alabar Pace over 2240 metres. Given the run of the race from the pole by Greg trailing Rocking Tess drawn next door, Hector Macray used the sprint lane to perfection, scoring by 3.4 metres from the pacemaker in a mile rate of 1-57. Heavily supported favourite Ragnarr (one/two – three wide home turn) was third 2.1 metres back. Raced by Ian in partnership with Ken Adams, Hector Macray recorded his 6th success in 35 outings - as a matter of interest, Ian’s very good pacer Tee Cee Bee Macray has been retired with a record of $246,974 in stakes from 84 starts resulting in 17 wins and 22 placings.

28th May Stawell: Another of the Merv Butterworth’s stable - former Kiwi 7Y0 Tintin In America-One Ali gelding The Bull Pen raced by the Butterworth Racing Syndicate was an impressive victor of the Talquist Trees Pace over 2180 metres. Trained and driven by Kerryn Manning, The Bull Pen after beginning quickly from gate five was unable to cross the polemarker Single Tree Road, but after persisting and using plenty of aggression, was eventually able to take over mid-race. Despite the early burn, The Bull Pen gave plenty in the straight to hold off Single Tree Road which wouldn’t relent, going down by 2.2 metres in a mile rate of 1-57.5. Marjorie Jean (one/one) was third 11.5 metres away.

30th May Tabcorp Park Melton: On what’s been a good month for Merv Butterworth, 5Y0 ex-kiwi gelding Yankee Lincoln (American Ideal-Caribbean Blue) was victorious in the 2240 metre Waste Sense Pace. Trained by Kerryn Manning and driven by husband Grant Campbell, Yankee Lincoln (gate 4) was given a lovely trip trailing Idle Times (gate two) as Rocknroll Ronnie flew away from outside the front line. Coming away from the inside to be one/one at the bell, Yankee Lincoln followed Im No Outlaw into the straight before peeling wide and running home strongly to prevail by 14.6 metres from Miss Hartley and Idle Times who was 5.1 metres away in third place. The mile rate 1-56.5.

31st May Cranbourne: Georgina Coram was in the winners stall after 4Y0 Petrock-On Pets gelding Gee Hee Rocks greeted the judge in the 2080 metre Woodlands Stud Pace. Trained locally by Ray Matthews, Gee Hee Rocks driven by David Miles raced exposed for the greater portion of the journey, answering every call to prevail by a neck from Vernnay along the sprint lane after trailing the front runner Freedom Writer which held down third a nose away in a thrilling finish. The mile rate 2-01.7.