GRANDFATHER JIM, 89, TRAINS TWO WINNERS

■ Hamilton was the venue for Monday trots on May 15 with two reinspersons Jackie Barker and Mattie Craven each driving a double, while Jackie’s 89 year old grand father – local Jim trained both of her winners.

It was a case of age has no bar when the first of them 12Y0 Safari-Jewel Of Cobargo gelding

Johnny Redcoat scored in the 2160 metre Alexandra House Sports Club Pace, notching up his first success in just under 12 months.

Starting from the extreme draw, Johnny Redcoat settled at the tail of the field as Give Us A Wink led from gate two.

Still last racing for the bell, Jackie weaved in-between runners to be three back for the final circuit after Kiwi Kalahari (one/one) had eased three wide.

Moving to be one/one approaching the home turn after Luv Me Or Hate Me had joined the leader with Esspe Supreme challenging after trailing, Johnny Redcoat angled three wide on straightening and ran home best to prevail by 1.2 metres from Luv Me Or Hate Me which battled on gamely.

Hilldale Sunrise was third from mid-field 1.2 metres back in third place. The mile rate 2-00.2. ■ Nine year old Art Major-Presidential Drive gelding Presidential Art chalked up his seventh success in 132 outings when taking the Taylor Motors Hamilton Pace over 1660 metres.

Taken back to the tail from gate six with Majorholeinmypocket leading from gate two, Presidential Art despite being right off the track on the final bend, rattled home to score by a nose from Majorholeinmypocket and Atego Shades which dead-heated after using the sprint lane from mid-field. Aintsobad was a head away fourth away in what could easily have been an exciting triple dead-heat. The mile rate 1-58.

■ Terang’s Matty Craven snared the Bendigo Bank 3Y0 Maiden Pace over 1660 metres with first starter Pardon Me, a daughter of Captain Treacherous and Wrongly Accused and the Pacing For Pink Trotters Handicap over 2160 metres with Love Ya Brother, a 5Y0 gelding by Love You from Maori Tessa.

Pardon Me blitzed her rivals after coming wide from the tail in the last lap to register a huge 12.9 metre margin in 1-55.7 over another of the Barker team AlwaysSteamed Up from mid-field and a death-seating Jensville who was 1.1 metres away third.

Love Ya Brother after pacing and breaking from 20 metres gradually made ground following up Honey Bourbon three wide only to be left on a limb at the bell.

Continuing the forward surge, Love Ya Brother claimed the leader Caseys Diamond in the straight to greet the judge by 12.8 metres, with Fredrhys third a half head away third after always being handy. The mile rate 2-03.

■ Gordon duo Tim and Darby McGuigan landed the Matthews Petroleum Maiden Pace over 2160 metres with Highview Tommy-Girls Got Rhythm 4Y0 mare Girls View, leading throughout from the pole to account for Kintsukuroi (one/one) and Bundy Shark which trailed the winner. The margins 2.7 metres by 3.8 metres in a mile rate of 2-00.6.

■ It’s great to see Amy Tubbs having a great run of luck at present after returning to the sport after a lengthy spell away from it. Driving 4Y0 Pet Rock-Bellasario mare Rio Rock to victory for sister Jess Tubbs in the Finchetts Plumbing Pace over 2160 metres.

Going forward from one/two with a three wide trail on the back of Sweetpassion ahead of her in the last lap, Rio Rock ran home down the centre of the track to score by a neck from Martin Magic along the sprint lane after following the leader Luvbite (gate 2). Urbadboy was 1.3 metres back in third place after racing exposed. The mile rate 1-59.

Three winners

■ Bendigo duo Alex Ashwood and partner Tayla French dominated an entertaining night of harness racing at Swan Hill on Tuesday with three winners on the nine race program.

The Whitfield Group Pace over 1750 metres commenced the night and the stable drew first blood when 7Y0 Caribbean Blaster-Stylish Storm gelding Tropical Storm (Tayla French) led throughout from gate four to register a 2.5 metre

Harness Racing

Racing to the lead out wide on turning Aristotle was claimed by Rimes in the shadows of the post to gain the day by 1.6 metres in a mile rate of 2-02.6. Kyvalley Paint (one/one) for most of the race was third 5.1 metres back.

■ Avenel trainer Wayne Potter and twenty one year old daughter Tasmyn were successful with Betting Line-Inna Spring filly Itzmineontheline in the Neatline Homes 3Y0 Pace over 1690 metres and in doing so, broke her maiden status at start number 16.

Sulky Snippets Sulky Snippets

len-baker@ bigpond.com with Len Baker unextended margin in advance of Rojenbye which settled at the tail from the extreme draw before going forward three wide in the last lap. Tuakana was third a head away after trailing the winner. The mile rate 1-58.5.

■ Alex took the reins aboard 5Y0 Rock N Roll Heaven-Arty Alice mare Angel Of Heaven to bring up the second victory by taking the Enviro Battlers In The Bush Maiden Pace over 1750 metres in a rate of 2-00.4.

Spending most of the race three pegs from an inside second line draw as Epic Orion began fast to lead from gate three, Angel Of Heaven making her third race appearance dashed home along the sprint lane to blouse the pacemaker by 1.5 metres, with Remi Magic 3.1 metres back in third place after coming away from behind the leader on the home turn.

■ It was Tayla again in the winners circle when 3Y0 Bettors Delight-Three Eagles gelding Cheeky Eagle brought up a hat trick when successful in the 1750 metre Enviro X Solutions Pace.

Beginning brilliantly from gate five to lead all of the way in what was the ‘drive of the night’. Allowed to get away with murder, Cheeky Eagle kicked clear on straightening to account for the hot favourite Yapper which trailed from the pole by 3.2 metres returning a mile rate of 1-58.3.

Denzil Debro (three pegs – outside winner last lap) was a creditable third 3 metres away.

■ Red Cliffs trainer Reece Moore is usually a winner at most Swan Hill meetings and provided a double on the night - 6Y0 Bettors DelightAmazing Ellen gelding Sonnys Amazing snared the Mulching Technologies Pace over 1750 metres with Ellen Tormey in the sulky and 7Y0 Somebeachsomewhere-Winter Rose gelding Neds Beach the 2240 metre Dalsan Investments Pace with James Herbertson driving.

Beginning fast from gate five to trail the leader and short priced favourite Impulsive George (gate three), Sonnys Amazing after easing off the back of the leader on turning was too slick at the finish, scoring by 4.5 metres in a rate of 156.7.

Flaming Lucky (one/two) was third 5.6 metres back. Neds Beach led throughout from the pole with the result never in doubt, coasting to the wire 4.4 metres ahead of Crankhandle (one/two – three wide last lap) in 1-58.9. Notsokool was third 10.5 metres away after trailing the runner up all of the way.

Massive 11 races

■ Shepparton was Wednesday’s venue was massive with eleven races taking place and one winner paying odds of $151.00 in a knock-out blow for punters.

The race was the Saddleworld Shepparton Trotters Mobile with the victor being lightly raced 6Y0 Majestic Son-Genayas Girl gelding Rymes. Bred, raced and trained in the Macedon Ranges at Gisborne by hobbyist Don Lock, Rimes having only his ninth start and driven by Damian Wilson settled with most of the field ahead of him after starting from gate four on the second line in a strung out field with Starlight Red leading from gate four.

When the well supported Elegant Peak moved forward three wide solo from three back in the last lap being followed up by Aristotle, Rimes latched to the back of the pair.

Leading out from gate two, Itzmineontheline was restrained to allow Leavemeout (Chris Alford) to assume control shortly after the start. After a perfect passage, Itzminontheline used the sprint lane to defeat a death-seating Otis Rising by 5.1 metres, with Leavemeout a half neck back third. The mile rate 1-57.9.

■ The trotters races are always great spectacle’s at Shepparton and the Hunter Rural Trotters Handicap over 2190 metres was no exception – the winner being Romsey trainer/ driver Chris Svanosio’s 4Y0 Creatine-Aldebaran Shelly mare Lady Adelia who’s performance was outstanding.

Beginning in a pace from 10 metres, Lady Adelia had to be broken up to regain her gait settling a long last as the heavily backed Imperial Countess led from barrier two.

Going forward three wide solo in the final circuit, Lady Adelia joined the leader on the home turn and showing great determination in the straight, was able to blouse Imperial Countess by a head returning a mile rate of 2-04. Consistent 9Y0 gelding Yoee was third along the sprint lane from mid-field in the moving lane 9.5 metres away.

■ Five year old Captaintreacherous-Niki No No mare Niki Nah Nah trained by Kari Males in Bolinda and raced by Rob Auber and partners returned from a spell to land the 1690 metre Alabar Vicbred Platinum Mares Sprint Championship (3rd heat).

Driven by Kate Gath, Niki Nah Nah first up since December last crossed Roslyn Gaye (gate five) shortly after the start to lead for the remainder of the trip, running out an easy 6 metre victor over Roslyn Gaye and Roam along the sprint lane from three pegs who was 1.9 metres away third.

Beaut Kilmore trip

■ Thursday was big with a 10 races at Maryborough and eleven at Kilmore.

Campbells Creek trainer Brad Cross has been having a good run with his trotters and Used To Me-Amarula filly Izarra driven by Ellen Tormey snared the Congratulations Black And Gold VSTA Awards 3Y0 & Older Vicbred Maiden Trotters Mobile over 2190 metres.

Enjoying a beaut trip from gate three trailing I Dream Of Millie (gate six), Izarra ran home best along the sprint lane to register a 3.1 metre over the pacemaker, with first starter Deejay Dex (three wide last lap from mid-field) third 4.4 metres back. The mile rate 2-02.8.

■ ‘King of the trotters’ – Riddell’s Chris Lang trained and reined Muscle Hill-Real Babe filly Glamour Stride to an all of the way victory from gate two in the Aldebaran Park Sweetheart Trotters Mobile (Heat 1) over 2190 metres, holding too many guns for She Sailz which trailed in a rate of 2-01.1. Aldebaran Tanisha from midfield was third 3.8 metres away.

■ Melton duo Sonya Smith and Anthony Butt chalked up a double after Damysus, a 6Y0 Auckland Reactor-Ninkasi gelding landed the 2190 metre Red House Bakery Pace and 4Y0 Betting Line-My Major Rocket gelding Younggiftedandblack the Worlds Best Hoof Oil Pace over the same trip.

Damysus after a one/one passage from gate four on the second line eased three wide in the last lap going knowhere, but when switched down to the sprint lane on turning ran home best to score by a head from the leader Vapar Fire in a rate of 2-00.3. Maas Betting Again which raced uncovered was third 3.3 metres away.

■ Younggiftedandblack after being trapped wide from gate six progressed to cross Lottie Moon (gate three) and after being allowed to set the terms, defied all challengers to defeat Lottie Moon which eased off his back on turning by 2 metres. Jacks Boy was third 1.4 metres back after trailing the pair. The mile rate 1-58.2.

This Week

■ Wednesday – Mildura, Thursday –Charlton/Ballarat, Friday – Bendigo, Saturday – Melton, Sunday – Cranbourne, Monday – Stawell, Tuesday – Echuca.

Ballarat victors

■ It was great to see Cobden part-owner/trainer

Laurie O’Keeffe return to the winners list at Ballarat on Friday when 5Y0 home bred Skyvalley-Sunelle gelding Sellune scored in the Brandt Agriculture Trotters Mobile over 2200 metres.

Driven by Kerryn Manning, Sellune eased three wide off a one/one passage on the final bend and ran on nicely to defeat the pacemaker Savvy Kyvalley by 3.5 metres. Wilcannia was third 1.8 metres away after trailing the winner. The rate 2-05.2.

■ Bolinda’s Brent Lilley combined with Daryl Douglas to take the 2200 metre Ballarat Leagues Club 2Y0 & 3Y0 Trotters Mobile with first starter Kyvalley Michael, a colt by Love You from Missandei.

Settling three pegs from the pole as Your Kidding led from gate five with the favourite Oopzee Daizee racing in the open and Against The Bridle one/one, with Cherisma on the back of the leader, Oopzee Daizee gained a slender lead on turning as Kyvalley Michael eased three wide. Driven desperately halfway up the running, Oopzee Daizee looked likely to hold on only to gallop under pressure as Kyvalley Michael started to haul her in as Cherisma angled three wide to make a claim.

Hitting the wire it was Kyvalley Michael victorious from Cherisma by 1.9 metres, with Oopzee Daizee third a half head away and Your Kidding fourth. Following the race Oopzeee Daizee was relegated to fourth. The mile rate 2-04.3.

■ Sixty year old Melton trainer Michael Breen landed the RL & LM Emerson Printing Eileen Wall Memorial Pace over 1710 metres with Black Cameo, a 4Y0 Bling It On-Cullens Cameo gelding making only his second race appearance.

With Jack Laugher in the sulky, Black Cameo enjoyed the run of the race from the pole trailing Arklow which began fast from gate five. Easing away from the markers on turning, Black Cameo finished best to prevail by 7.4 metres from Arklow returning a 1-57.3 mile rate. Princess Alexandra was third 5.1 metres back after following the pair.

■ Lara owner/trainer Carson Miller snared the 2200 metre Be Heard Therapy And Supporters Pace with his 8Y0 Betterthancheddar-Front Page Girl mare Miss Social Media in identical fashion to Black Cameo, trailing Our Ultimate Layla from the pole and easing off her back to defeat a flying Female Assassin (one/three – four wide home turn) by a nose with Our Ultimate Layla third 20 metres away. The mile rate 2-00.2.

- Len Baker

Just Believe

■ Co-trainer Greg Sugars admits his star trotter Just Believe handled the "epic" trip from Melbourne to Stockholm better than he did.

Just Believe, winner of the Inter Dominion and Great Southern Star in recent months, now has nine days to prepare for the world's most ironic trotting race, the Elitloppet at Solvalla in Stockholm on May 28.

"It sounded daunting when we left home, but to be there with him all the way, it was absolutely epic," Sugars told Adam Hamilton for Racenet. "He seems to have handled it really well, but I certainly hit the wall."

- thetrots.com.au