Sulky Snippets Sulky Snippets

This Week

■ Wednesday – Cobram/Mildura, Thursday – Ballarat, Friday – Cranbourne, Saturday –Melton, Sunday – Boort (Cup), Monday –Stawell, Tuesday – Shepparton.

len-baker@ bigpond.com with Len Baker home over the concluding stages to gain the day by 2.2 metres in a rate of 1-57.5 over Do Not Surrender which trailed the pacemaker also using the sprint lane. Dancing With Flo held third a head away.

Victory habit

■ Adelaide reinsman Wayne Hill is making a habit of coming to Mildura and driving winners –last Wednesday was no exception with Wayne landing three – Illawong Kim for fellow SA trainer Shane Loone, The Bands Playing (Frank Mercieca) and Gracia Cullen (Aaron Coad).

On a night of multiple wins Charlton’s Ryan Sanderson kept up his great average at the track scoring aboard Ultimate Trouble (Andrew Vozlic), Spring Delight (Scott Garraway) and Sahara Tiger for father Shane in the fast class event.

Not to be outdone, Bendigo based Michelle Phillips also chalked up three – they being Son Of Zodiac and Half Moon Beach for Andrew Vozlic and Denzil Debro (Raharna McDonald) as did Bendigo’s Ellen Tormey – All Da Rage (Kate Attard), Avoca Blues (Scott Garraway) and Moreartsthanclass (Reece Moore) – the quartet winning every race on the 12 event program.

Double day

■ Thursday was double day with Melton racing in the afternoon and Echuca at night.

Beautifully bred Sweet Lou-Bellas Delight colt Sergeant Lou after two impressive previous runs opened his winning account with a tough victory in the Download The TAB App 2Y0+ Maiden Pace at Melton.

Trained at Bolinda by Kari Males, Sergeant Lou driven by Michael Bellman settled three back in the moving linr from a solo second line draw as Heavensville led from gate three.

Going forward three wide solo in the final circuit, Sergeant Lou joined Bundle, a Yankee Rockstar-Predict filly on debut which after racing exposed from gate five took a narrow lead on the final bend.

Finishing full of running, Sergeant Lou to the delight of the large ownership managed by Rob Auber raced away to record a 11.9 metre margin in advance of Bundle who’s first up effort was outstanding, with Major Samir also on debut third 6.5 metres away after following the runner up throughout. The mile rate 1-56.1.

■ For years Plumpton trainer Bill Galea has always come up with a handy horse or two and 4Y0 Pet Rock-Classic Bliss mare Classic Angelina who brought up two wins in succession is another after taking the 2240 metre $500,000 Reasons To Join The VHRC By February 28 Pace. Driven by James Herbertson, Classic Angelina was taken back to the rear of the field from outside the front line with Chogi (gate two) holding out a challenge from Younggiftedandblack (gate six) running into the first turn.

Following a fast mid-race move by Anthony Butt aboard Ladyofthearts to assume control, Herbie was content to sit at the rear with Classic Angelina until the last lap when he followed Our Miki Diva ahead of him forward three wide into the home straight.

Coming with a late finish, Classic Angelina prevailed by 1.5 metres over a game Younggifted-andblack with Our Miki Diva a

■ Echuca is long renowned as a leaders track and that’s exactly what happened when three long shots all saluted at the Campaspe Park race program.

■ Seven year old Red Samurai-Starlights Silver mare Starlight Red (barrier 3) at odds of $23.00 with Josh Duggan in the sulky led throughout in the Echuca Central Hire Trotters Handicap over 2130 metres to defeat her older brother 11Y0 gelding Starlight Storm (barrier 2) which trailed by 6 metres in a rate of 2-06 giving Bunbartha trainer Brian Bourke the quinella.

Its Diamond Creek (barrier 5) was third 12.8 metres back after racing exposed. The trifecta paid a massive $7471.50.

■ Woorinen (Swan Hill) trainer Joe Costa combined with Ararat’s Michael Bellman to land the Echuca-Moama Show BBQ Pace over 1755 metres with 5Y0 A Rocknroll Dance-Future Sign mare Ace Star paying odds of $41.00 when leading all of the way from gate three.

Polemarker Harts Last used the sprint lane from three back on the markers for second 2.5 metres away, with Alcatraz Girl (gate 6) third 1.6 metres back after trailing the winner. The mile rate 1-58.8.

■ Local trainer Ros Rolfe joined forces with Leigh Sutton to capture the 1755 metre Northern Rivers Equine Veterinary Pace with Beach Time, a 7Y0 Somebeachsomewhere-Karamea Toastime paying odds of $34.00.

Driven hard from gate two to cross another local Lethal Lover inside her, Beach Time had to be urged for most of the trip, but gave plenty in the run to the wire, defeating Ferocious Son (three pegs – three wide home turn) by 1.6 metres. Lethal Lover used the sprint lane for third a half head away. The mile rate 1-59.

■ Moorilim owner/trainer Greg Fleming combined with young reinswoman Codi Rauchenberger to snare a double at the meeting with Sunshine Beach-Gwenda Baker colt Hereforagoodtime taking the Echuca Pacing Cup 24 March 2023 3Y0 Pace over 1755 metres and 4Y0 Four Starzzz Shark-Sweet Barney gelding Red Hot Assassin the 2160 metre Rich River Golf Club Pace.

First starter Hereforagoodtime led throughout from gate two, coasting to the wire 8.4 metres in advance of polemarker Talk Is Cheap which trailed, with Eye See Philtra (one/two from gate 3) third 7.5 metres back after shifting into the sprint lane on turning.The mile rate 1-58.9.

Red Hot Assassin led all of they from gate two and was never out of second gear, coasting to the wire 2.2 metres clear of Missed The Truth (gate 5) which raced outside him in a rate of 200.2. Lorimermajor (three pegs) used the sprint lane for third a neck away.

Broke the ice

■ At Ballarat of Friday, twenty year old Pipers Creek reinsman Ben Xiriha (son of Tony) broke the ice when having his fourteenth drive – steering ‘boss’ Bolinda trainer Brent Lilley’s 5Y0 Muscle Hill-Imitating gelding Spotlight to victory in the Flying Horse Entertainment Venue Trotters Mobile over 2200 metres.

Starting solo on the second line, Spotlight settled three back in the moving line before going forward to park outside the leader Naked Truth (gate two) prior to the bell. Surging past Naked Truth approaching the final bend, Spotlight was tackled strongly by Oneoutofthesquare (one/two – three wide last lap), but fought back doggedly to gain the day by a half neck, with Wilcannia (one/one) third 19.1 metres back. The mile rate 2-02.

■ Ex-Queensland partners Amy Cargill (trainer) and Zac Chappenden (driver) registered their first Victorian victory since joining the Stewart/Tonkin team only a couple of weeks back when 7Y0 Sportswriter-Tears To Maple gelding Hit The Track scored in the Girls Night Out 3rd May Pace Book Now Pace over 2200 metres.

Given a sweet trip three back in the moving line from gate two on the second row after Terroroan had made a lightning move from the rear to assume control, Hit The Track followed Redbank Molly (one/one – three wide home turn) forward and after easing four wide on turning, ran home strongly to register a 4.2 metre margin (his 13th in 154 appearances) over Terroroan returning a mile rate of 2-00.7. Redbank Molly was third 3 metres back.

■ Kooreh (St Arnaud) co-trainers Shaun and Jason McNaulty snared the 2200 metre Regent Entertainment Trotters Handicap with ‘Cups King’ Travel Bug, a 7Y0 gelded son of Dream Vacation and Tricia Powell raced by Jason.

Driven by James Herbertson who chalked up three for the night, Travel Bug coming from a daunting 30 metre backmark naturally settled a long way off the leader Easy Pickings (10m) which had crossed Show Me The Moolah early in the piece.

Easing away from the inside mid-race to face the breeze, Travel Bug had luck go his way at the bell when Easy Pickings galloped throwing away all chance which allowed Travel Bug to stride clear for the final circuit.

Although tackled on the home turn by Show Me The Moolah which had eased away from the markers, Travel Bug’s quality showed over the concluding stages as he reached the wire 1.4 metres in advance of Show Me The Moolah in a mile rate of 2-03.4. Kyvally Clichy (one/ one last lap) after an early break was third 2.5 metres back.

- Len Baker

News Extra

Fire at Sunshine

■ Brimbank Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating a building fire in Sunshine on Saturday morning (Feb. 25).

Officers attended a commercial premises on Devonshire Rd following reports of smoke coming from the building about 4am.

Fire crews were notified and extinguished the blaze which caused significant damage to two businesses inside.

The cause of the fire has been deemed as suspicious.

A crime scene wasestablished and motorists were asked to avoid the area.

Pursuit, arrest

■ Police have arrested a man following a pursuit in Werribee on Thursday night.

Officers in an unmarked car were patrolling Synnot St, Werribee, about 9pm when they noticed a car being driven erratically.

Members followed the car and observed it drive onto the wrong side of the road and collide with a passing vehicle before continuing on and heading for Derrimut Rd.

Once on Derrimut Rd the car continued to be driven erratically and was constantly on the wrong side of the road. A 35-year-old Maidstone man has been taken to hospital under police guard.

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