Swan Hill – a punters paradise!!

Favourite punters had a ball at the Swan Hill trots last Wednesday, with five of the good quality six races programmed going their way.

Shepparton (Lemnos) trainer/driver Nathan Jack took the honours for the night providing three winners with the first to arrive being Well Said-Musical Delight colt Young Rooster ($1.40) in the DNR Logistics 2Y0 Pace over 1750 metres. Trained by Nathan, Young Rooster began very fast to lead from gate five and after being rated a treat, ran out an easy 7.2 metre victor in 2-00.2 ahead of Keayang Kookai on debut which trailed, with another first starter Colossal Stride 1.2 metres away in third place after racing exposed from the bell.

Six year old mare Spic And Sparkled (Pacific Fella-Spic And Spangled) landed the Egmont Park Stud Pace for C0 & C1 class over 1750 metres for Toolern Vale trainer Paul Gabriel. Enjoying a sweet passage from gate five following the poleline leader Lick My Lips, Jack angled Spic And Sparkled ($2.00) off the back of the leader on the home turn and the pair went head and head to the wire, with Spic And Spangled drawing clear to win by an 11.2 metre margin in a rate of two minutes even. Growse was third a half neck away.

Veteran Charlton trainer Mark Boyle who over the years has won numerous races at Nyah and Swan Hill, combined with Jack to snare the 1750 metre Spoons Riverside 3Y0 Pace with Western Terror-Prestigeous Stride gelding Bruised Ego paying Supertab odds of $6-00. Enjoying the run of the race from the pole trailing last start Charlton winner Just Makemine Diamonds which flew across the field from outside the front line to lead for Grant Campbell, Bruised Ego finished determinedly along the sprint lane to gain the day by 3 metres from the heavily supported death-seating Yeah Whatever, with Our Uncle Alan (one/one – three wide home turn) 2.3 metres back in third place. The mile rate 1-56.6.

Great Western’s Kerryn Manning (the world’s most decorated reinswoman) is becoming a regular at Swan Hill meetings and was successful with Kiwi bred Raging Bull-Coca Vicola filly Our Bare Knuckle ($1.10) in the Bill Gurnett Pace for C1 class over 2240 metres in a rate of 2-01. Going forward three wide from gate five to park outside the leader Kissing Game (gate two), Kerryn was never perturbed at any stage as Our Bare Knuckle coasted to the wire 1.5 metres in advance of Kissing Game. Major Patron was third 3.4 metres away after gaining inside runs from last.

Terang duo Marg Lee (trainer) and son Jason (driver) provided the most impressive winner on the night when 4Y0 Roll With Joe-Jilliby Jasmine gelding Jilliby Chevy ($1.20) greeted the judge in the fast class race of the evening - the Murray Downs Golf & Country Club Pace for C2 to C4 class over 1750 metres. First up since February, Jilliby Chevy began well from gate five to cross Boom Time (gate four) and allowed to run, had his rivals chasing a long way out. Giving full rein on turning, Jilliby Chevy scored by 3.2 metres in a mile rate of 1-53.9 over Boom Time who kept with him, with Poppys Princess (five back the markers) 21.2 metres away in third place.

Burrumbeet trainer/driver Mick Stanley is a regular at most Swan Hill meetings and sent punters home on a happy note after American Ideal-Flair For Life colt American Zest (1.30) easily accounted for his rivals in the 2240 metre C0 class Steve Banks Pace. Not pushed from gate four to cross Onthecrestofawave which showed brilliant speed to lead from the gate five, American Zest always had the race in his keeping as the pair had the race to themselves, defeating Onthecrestofawave by 8.3 metres in a rate of 2-02. Magic Mach which led up the outside division in the final circuit from four back the markers was third 9.9 metres in arrears of the runner up.

**** The next Swan Hill meeting will be a day fixture Thursday July 5 ****