Alex, David and Haydon burn at Swan Hill

Melton based reinsman Alex Ashwood along with Bendigo duo David Van Ryn and Haydon Gray took the honours at Swan Hill trots last Thursday, each winning two races on the program – 6Y0 Pacific Fella-Spic And Spangled mare Spic And Sparkled taking the Racecourse Bare Foot Bowls Pace for C1 class over 1760 metres and 5Y0 Art Official-Holly Robyn gelding Salty Robyn the Racecourse Bowls Hub Hire Pace for C5 or better class over the same distance for Ashwood, while Cocosfella and Downtown Miss brought up the Van Ryn Gray double.

Spic And Sparkled trained at Toolern Vale by Paul Gabriel speared away from gate six to lead running into the first turn. Allowed to amble around at his leisure, Spic And Sparkled had too much in reserve at the finish, scoring by 2.4 metres in advance of the heavily supported polemarker Whata Challenge which trailed, with Sunraysia hope Our Amazing Grace running home late from the tail to finish third. The mile rate 2-01.8.

Kiwi bred Salty Robyn which was touted as something special when trained in NSW by Shane & Lauren Tritton before transferring to Andy Gath at Long Forest between Melton and Bacchus Marsh, settled at the tail of the field after starting from the extreme draw as Joe Costa’s Riley James led out from the pole before being crossed by Bettor Downunder (gate five). Still last hitting the back straight on the final occasion, Salty Robyn despite being five wide on the final bend, motored to the wire, defeating Pow Wow Bromac who was back with him before obtaining inside runs to go down by 1.2 metres in a slick rate of 1-55.7. Another Colony flashed home late from last on the final bend to finish third a half neck away.

Marong trainer David Van Ryn combined with nephew Haydon Gray to land the DNR Logistics 3Y0 Pace over 2240 metres to open the day’s proceedings when Artistic Fella-Coco Cullen gelding Cocosfella led most of the way from gate four after crossing Marjorie Jean shortly after the start. Always in control Cocosfella had a comfortable 7.4 metre margin over Heres A Real Go (three back the markers – three wide home turn) in a mile rate of 2-00.5. Marjorie Jean was 7 metres back in third place.

In-form 4Y0 Majestic Son-False Gem mare treated her rivals with contempt in the 2240 metre Racecourse Bowls Members Trotters Handicap for T0 or better class. Stepping cleanly from 20 metres, Downtown Miss went forward to assume control from roughie Idolatry prior to the bell and after trotting to perfection, scored by a half neck over the 60 metre backmarker King Denny from last who got surprisingly close, with Scottish Sardius 10.8 metres away in third place after having every possible chance after dropping to the back of the winner on the home turn. The mile rate 2-04.3.

Kennington (Bendigo) trainer Shaun McNaulty is having a wonderful season and snared the Ash Roberts Homes Pace for C0 class over 1750 metres with a smart filly by the name of Dixirosalie a daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven and Colada Belle. With Chris Svanosio taking the reins, Dixirosalie began brilliantly from gate four to lead and was never in any danger, careering away to record a 24.9 metre margin in 1-57.9 from Manuela which used the sprint lane from three back the markers, with Shesabeegee a half neck back in third place after following the winner.

Shepparton (Orrvale) father and son – Steve and Ryan Duffy produced an impressive type by the name of Spring Delight to capture the Advance Floors 2Y0 Pace over 1750 metres when making his race debut. Leading easily from the pole, Ryan elected to hand over the front running to Laura Crossland’s React To Beauty when pressured shortly after the start, receiving a cosy trip on his back. Using the sprint lane, Spring Delight a gelded son of Bettors Delight and Spring To Life scored by 1.9 metres over the pacemaker in two minutes even. Bettor Star was 6.8 metres away in third place after racing exposed from the bell.

Bendigo’s Ellen Tormey was responsible for the “drive of the day” when successful aboard Mildura trainer Peter O’Brien’s 7Y0 Real Desire-Lils Dream gelding Tell Us We Dream in the L & B Ryan Pace for C1 class over 1750 metres. Settling three back in the moving line from gate four as Royal Icing led from gate two, Tell Us We Dream commenced a forward move three wide in the final circuit and showing great acceleration, dashed to the front before the home turn. Holding a handy margin on turning, Tell Us We Dream started to shorten stride approaching the finish, but held on to register a neck victory in 1-58.9 over 11 year old gelding Superstar Xpress (three back the markers) and Tarleton Joe (one/one) in a mile rate of 1-58.8.

**** Swan Hill race again Thursday August 16.