September Winning Post
2nd September Ballarat: Duncan McPherson’s 5Y0 Majestic Son-Solar Powered gelding Aldebaran Willo trained by Brent Lilley at Bolinda and driven by Chris Alford was a strong victor of the Eureka Concrete Trotters Handicap over 2200 metres. A trifle slow to begin from 10 metres, Aldebaran Willo was immediately sent forward out very wide on the track to park outside the leader Eoghan Omaille for the majority of the race. Travelling kindly approaching the final bend, Aldebaran Willo when given full rein in the straight raced clear as the winning post came into view to score by 5.7 metres from Namoscar (one/two at bell – three wide last lap) after galloping away from barrier three, with Eoghan Omaille holding down third 8.9 metres back. The rate 2-02.7.
Another of the team Aldebaran Levani (Donato Hanover) also was successful at Pennsylvania in the USA overnight.
14th September Cranbourne: John Hawke and Rob Merola’s Western Terror-Sewinyaface filly Sew What trained by Lance Justice stitched her rivals in the Lather Up Standing @ Northern Rivers Equine Pace over 1609 metres. Taking a concession for Kyal Costello, Sew What bred and raced by the pair and co-owners Diane Giles and Sam Godino after starting inside the second line settled at the tail of the field as Panania North (also trained by Justice) led from outside the front line. Looking forlorn when still last approaching the home turn with a wall of horses around her, Sew What sprouted wings along the sprint lane to finish at 100 miles an hour to gain the day by a head in a victory which had to be seen to be believed, defeating Aimforthestars which had every chance off the back of the leader. Panania North weakened for third a half neck away. The mile rate 1-57.6.
16th September Ballarat: The Hewitt & Whitty Trotters Handicap over 2200 metres saw Aldebaran Lodge Principal Duncan McPherson and partners victorious with Kiwi bred 5Y0 Majestic Son-Solar Powered gelding Aldebaran Willo in a rate of 2-03.5. Trained by Bolinda’s Brett Lilley, Aldebaran Willow after beginning safely but slow from 20 metres was immediately sent forward once balanced by Chris Alford to arrest the lead from Eoghan Omaille hitting the straight on the first occasion and from there on, the result was never in doubt. Although The Penny Drops (one/two at bell – three wide home turn) finished strongly, Aldebaran Willo held him at bay to greet the judge by a half neck, with iron mare Fear Not at start 200 third 14.4 metres back after being last at the bell.
18th September Tabcorp Park Melton: Cranbourne’s Club 21 syndicate which include Rob Molloy, Bill Hutchison, Len Baker, Georgina Coram, Glenda Sharp and Peter Watson have a very smart filly by the name of Naked Ambition who defeated her older rivals by taking out the 2240 metre Melton Toyota Trotters Mobile in a mile rate of 2-02.6. Trained at the Cranbourne training complex by former enzedder Dylan Stratford, Naked Ambition with regular reinsman Scott Ewen in the sulky went forward from gate three, but was unable to head off Atego Titan (gate two) leaving her parked in the open. Gaining cover racing for the bell (and she needed it after having a another unsuccessful try for the lead in the first lap) when Caabello went forward from three back to shadow the leader, Naked Ambition was given a mid-race breather. Easing three wide on the final bend, Naked Ambition ran home stylishly to record a 3.1 metre margin over Majestic Dream from the rear, with Caabello holding down third a head away. It was the filly’s fourth victory in 12 outings to date.
21st September Maryborough: Duncan McPherson’s large team are racing particularly well at the moment and internationally bred Muscle Hill-Zoia Boko colt Aldebaran Zeus was a brilliant victor of the Thanks To All Front Line Workers 2Y0 Trotters Handicap over 2190 metres at Maryborough on Monday September 21 to commence another week of regional racing. Having his first outing since May, Aldebaran Zeus trained by Brent Lilley and driven by Chris Alford was swiftly away from a 20 metre backmark and was immediately sent forward to arrest the lead away from first starter Evas Image at the post on the first occasion which had stepped cleanly from the pole. Rated to perfection, Aldebaran Zeus ran out an easy 9.6 metre victor from Evas Image, with Illawong Moonbeam third 9.8 metres away after always being handy after a slow beginning. The mile rate 2-05.2.
25th September Tabcorp Park Melton: Robert Blanch, Rob Molloy and Bill Hutchison were part-owners of Cranbourne trainer Dylan Stratford’s Bacardi Lindy-Redneck gelding Scootin Around (Zac Phillips) who scored in the DNR Logistics 3Y0 Trotters Mobile over 2240 metres. Peeling three wide off a one/one trip on the home turn, Scootin Around (gate five) scored by a half neck in 2-04.4 from Abitofadreamer along the sprint lane after trailing the leader Daring Angel. Goober a stablemate of the winner was third 8.4 metres away after racing exposed.
26th September Cranbourne: Ian Kitchin’s 4Y0 Sportswriter-Wya Mya Macray mare Larajay Macray won her eighth race in 54 outings by leading throughout in the 2080 metre Mark Gurry & Associates Pace. Trained at Bacchus Marsh by Jess Tubbs and Greg Sugars, Larajay Macray led for the majority of the trip from gate three and after being allowed to dictate terms to suit, safely held her rivals at bay to register a 4.5 metre margin over Hurricane Stride which trailed in a rate of 1-59 e ven. All Major was third a neck away from mid-field in the moving line.
29th September Bendigo: Paul Rowse’s part-owned 5Y0 Betterthancheddar-C C Bopper mare Betta Bopper was an easy winner of the Bendigo Party Hire Pace over 2150 metres. Trained by Emmett and Richard Brosnan at Bannockburn, Better Bopper was off and running from gate two on the second line to park outside the pacemaker El Boston where Emmett dictated the terms of the race. Doing only what she had to, Better Bopper scored by 4.2 metres in a mile rate of 1-56.8 over El Boston, with Duty Bound (one/three) was third a half head away.