August Winning Post

5th August Terang: Great Western trainer/driver Grant Campbell was successful with 6Y0 Courage Under Fire-Dundee Hanover gelding Deadly Assassin in the 2180 metre TAB Long May We Play Pace much to the delight of Melbourne owner/breeder Greg Bettiol. Given a cosy passage three back in the moving line from gate two on the second line as Julius Shadow (gate four) led, Deadly Assassin ran home stylishly after trailing Goodtime Lollie momentarily three wide in the last lap before going four wide prior to the home turn and dashing clear on turning to record a 11.7 metre margin ahead of Presidential Art from last in a rate of 1-58.3. Just Call Me Mac (one/three) was third a nose back.

12th August Stawell: Ian Kitchin’s 4Y0 Sportswriter-Wya Mya Macray mare Larajay Macray was successful in the Renown Silverware Pace over 2180 metres, Trained by Jess Tubbs and driven by husband Greg Sugars, Larajay Macray led throughout from the pole to defeat The Bull Pen along the sprint lane after trailing by 2.8 metres in 2-00.8, with Rocking Tess (three back the markers) third 2.1 metres back. It was Larajay Macray’s seventh victory in 49 starts.

14th August Tabcorp Park Melton: John Hawke’s Kiwi bred Bettors Delight-Reklaw 6Y0 gelding Rishi returned to the winners stall when victorious in the TAB Long May We Play Pace over 1720 metres. Driven by Zac Phillips for trainer Lance Justice. Rishi (gate three) crossed to lead shortly after the start and after being rated to perfection, gave his rivals the slip on the final bend. With runs coming from all directions approaching the post, Rishi defied all challengers to record a half head margin in a mile rate of 1-55.6 over Rock N Roll Chapel (one/one – three wide home turn), with the hot favourite Don’t Hold Back 3.1 metres away in third place after making the final bend very wide.

21st August Tabcorp Park Melton: Rishi was again successful at Melton on August 21, taking the 2240 metre Allies Express Pace in a mile rate of 1-58. With Zac Phillips once again in the sulky, Rishi from gate four enjoyed a sweet trip one/one and after easing three wide prior to the home turn, finished his race off well to score by a head from a death-seating Forty Thieves and Our Step Up which followed the winner, finishing 1.7 metres back.

15th August Shepparton: Peter Watkinson, Bruce Paul and Peter Hornsby’s 3Y0 Courage Under Fire-Sahara Miss colt Sierra Sirocco resumed with an easy victory in the 2190 metre Alabar Pace. Trained at Drouin by Gary and Deb Quinlan, Sierra Sirocco driven by Chris Alford began swiftly from outside the front line as polemarker Ozzie Battler and Herehecomes (gate three) held him wide before settling in the open. When Kate Gath sent the hot favourite Pacifico Dream forward from the tail racing for the bell, Alford sooled Sahara Sicocco forward to cross the leader and dictate the terms for the remaider of the journey, reaching the wire 2.3 metres clear of Pacifico Dream, with Ranieri (three back the markers) third 3.8 metres back in third place after being under pressure a long way from home. The mile rate 1-59.6.

19th August Ballarat: Terang duo Mattie Craven (trainer) and Sophia Arvidsson (driver) scored a most impressive victory with 3Y0 Muscle Hill-Solar Powered filly Aldebaran Tess against her older rivals in the Mega Jumps Trotters Mobile over 2200 metres and in doing so, brought up three wins in succession. Bred and raced by Duncan McPherson’s Aldebaran Lodge Pty Ltd, Aldebaran Tess was slow to muster speed from gate four finding herself three wide going back through the field as The Girls Got Flair began fast to lead from gate six. Going forward once balanced to park outside the leader, Aldebaran Tess applied plenty of pressure approaching the home turn before racing clear on turning to record a 11.2 metre margin from Strazeele (one/three – three wide last lap) to return a mile rate of 2-01.8. The Girls Got Flair held down third 1.7 metres back.

24th August Maryborough: Paul Rowse is having lots of fun along with Bannockburn co-trainers Emmett and Richard Brosnon with 4Y0 American Ideal-Diamonds N Gold gelding Yankee Gold who has progressively made his way through the grades and chalked up his 4th success in eight outings by taking the Crameri’s Mighty Helpful Mitre 10 Pace over 1690 metres in a rate of 1-55.4. Driven by Emmett, Yankee Gold was not bustled from gate five, ambling forward to assume control racing for the bell. Although challenged hard by Abouttime prior to the home turn, Yankee Gold gave plenty in the run to the wire, reaching the judge 1.1 metres in advance of Abouttime who didn’t shirk the issue after racing exposed from the bell. Ozzie Battler which trailed the winner after leading out was third 7.2 metres back.

27th August Horsham: Merv Butterworth’s ex-Kiwi 4Y0 McArdle-Trevi Bromac gelding Steam Punk was victorious in the 2200 metre Decron Horse Care Pace over 2200 metres, a race he actually sponsored. Trained and driven by Kerryn Manning, Steam Punk was restrained from gate five to settle four back the markers as Melanna Beach led from gate two. Gaining a lovely one/one trail in the last lap following Big Gun Johnny home from last, Steam Punk when asked for an effort on the home turn finished strongly to defeat semi-stablemate Deadly Assassin (Grant Campbell) when clear from a pocket on the back of the leader, with Big Gun Johnny holding down third. The margins being 11.6 metres by a neck in 2-01.6.

29th August Ballarat: Peter Svanosio and partners chalked up another victory with Orlandi Vici-Bohemian Queen gelding Brandlo Prince who was successful in the John Valves Trotters Handicap over 2200 metres. Trained by son Chris at Romsey, Brandlo Prince (barrier six) first up after a short break driven by stable assistant Michelle Phillips was very meritorious after raced exposed for most of the race. When Keayang Livana made a lightning move from mid-field to lead for the final circuit, he looked all over a winner, however not to be denied, Brandlo Prince knuckled down in grand style to give chase on turning and made a last stride lunge to prevail by a half head, returning a rate of 2-00.3. No Republic after an easy time four back the markers ran home nicely to be third 10 metres back.

31st August Maryborough: Duncan McPherson’s Kiwi bred Dream Vacation-Chiola Belle filly Aldebaran Belle racing under the banner of Aldebaran Lodge Pty. Ltd. scored her first victory at start number 18 by taking the Moonlight Lodge 3Y0 Trotters Handicap over 2190 metres. Trained at Daylesford by Anne-Maree Conroy, Aldebaran Belle driven by brother Glenn settled three back along the markers from gate two as Whos Countn led from barrier four with the favourite Hopeful Beauty (barrier six) going forward to park in the open. The race changed complexion on the final bend when Hopeful Beauty went off stride allowing Bellmac Beauty which had trailed to come off the back of the pacemaker, with Glenn easing Aldebaran Belle three wide to issue a challenge. Finishing strongly, Aldebaran Belle recorded a 2.2 metre margin over Bellmac Beauty returning a mile rate of 2-07.8. Whos Countn held down third 2.1 metres away.