This Modern Man too slick for rivals at Swan Hill Trots
Seven year old Modern Art-Christine Cullen stallion Modern Man appreciated a huge drop in class when successful in the fast class $7,000 Bart N Print Pace for C6 or better class over 2240 metres at Swan Hill on Tuesday.
Trained at Cardigan (Ballarat) by the state’s leading training duo Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin, Young Modern a winner of 17 races going into the event was dropping back from metropolitan free for all company and looked a grading certainty. Driven by Chris Alford, Young Modern was used from outside the front line to cross Lucky Lombo (gate two) entering the back straight on the first occasion and rated to perfection, safely held his rivals at bay to defeat Lucky Lombo along the sprint lane by 4.3 metres in a mile rate of 1-59.1 (last half a slashing 55 seconds – quarter 26.6). Bonny mare Milly Perez last season’s Mildura Cup victor, was 4.5 metres away in third place when first up since May.
Stewart and Tonkin finished the night with four winners, the others being Stratospheric in the Elliott Print Swan Hill Pace for C1 class, Gotta Go Electobet the Elliott Print Kerang Pace for C3 to C5 class and 4Y0 Rocknroll Hanover-Estasi mare Macelli the Elliottprint Proudly Supporting Swan Hill Trots Pace for C0 & C1 class, all over 1750 metres, with Alford doing the driving.
Stratospheric a 4Y0 daughter of Rocknroll Hanover and Star Chaser making her a half sister to prolific winner Safari, was eased to the rear from an inside second line draw as polemarker Catch Me If You can led. Despite racing wide for the final circuit, Stratospheric ran home stylishly to record a 2.2 metre margin in 1-56.6 over Plead The Fifth which crossed to lead at the bell after racing wide, with Catch Me If You Can holding down third 8.7 metres back.
Beautifully bred 5Y0 mare Gotta Go Electobet (Bettors Delight-Elect To Live) led throughout from the pole to easily account for La Safron (gate two) which trailed by 12.6 metres, with Ark (one/two) 5.1 metres away in third place. The mile rate 1-55.2.
Macelli exploded away from outside the front line to lead, having nothing more than “a stroll in the park” to defeat Yeah which trailed by 5.1 metres in a rate of 1-57.9. Markleigh Caz which parked in the open from the bell was third 7.1 metres away.
Five year olds dominated the night with Myola trainer Graham McDermott’s Tennotrump-Bonnie Cheval gelding Justtentrumps taking the kerang@elliottprint.com.au.Trotters Handicap for T0 or better class over 2240 metres much to the delight of Bendigo part-owner Dale (Buster) Alford and partners (no relation to Chris). Coming from 20 metres, Justtentrumps with Chris Svanosio in the sulky enjoyed a sweet one/one trip trailing last start Echuca winner Scottish Sardius, with From The West leading from the pole.
Easing three wide on the final bend, Justtentrumps surged to the front with the race in his keeping to score by 4.6 metres in advance of the rank outsider Jaden Gil (three back the markers) and Scottish Sardius who was 19.1 metres in arrears of the runner up. The mile rate 2-03.4.
Goulburn Valley father and son – Russell and Brent Thomson snared the quinella in the opening race on the program – the DNR Logistics Pace for C0 class over 2240 metres, with Brent’s 4Y0 gelding Manbar Duke (Nathan Jack) leading throughout from gate three to defeat Russ’ Letsrockletsroll (Craig Turnbull) by 3.5 metres in a rate of 2-00.1. Always in control Manbar Duke (Santanna Blue Chip-Korobeit Princess) travelled beautifully and had plenty in hand at the finish. First starter Tillys Desire was third off a one/one trip.
Great Western’s Peter Manning provided the shock result of the night when Shadow Play-Lady Lucky Lou gelding Night Ninja at Supertab odds of $36.40 greeted the judge in the swanhill@elliottprint.com.au 3Y0 Pace over 1750 metres. Driven by stable employee Jason Ainsworth, Night Ninja (gate four) trailed the long odds-on favourite Trinity Dreaming (from the Stewart camp) and when taken off her back on turning, finished too well to gain the day by a head in 1-56.8. Miss Skeeter was third 10.1 metres away after racing exposed.
*** All roads will lead to Swan Hill on Saturday week October 21 for the first race of the 2017/18 Country Cup Circuit – the 3SH (Group 3) Swan Hill Pacing Cup which is sure to attract a terrific field.
