The public get to race for the ULTIMATE TROTS EXPERIENCE
Even though the fields were small at Swan Hill trots last Wednesday, the six race program was pumped up with the inclusion of two double seater sulky races. Every day people from Swan Hill Bus Biz, The Guardian, MixxFM & Kiel Tiling joined professional drivers behind real race horses and had a night they’ll never forget. If you want the Ultimate Trots Experience that will leave your heart racing long after the race has stopped then contact the club.
Strathfieldsaye trainer/driver Glenn Douglas who rarely misses a Swan Hill fixture was successful with 4Y0 Art Official-Anna Rachelle gelding Artistic Saint in the Yankee Rockstar @ Northern Rivers Pace for C0 class over 2240 metres to open the nights proceedings. Starting solo on the second line, Artistic Saint raced by Noel Watson settled at the tail of the field as Our Sir Denver led from gate three. Gaining a lovely ride home in the last lap trailing the favourite Machs Gold ahead of him, Artistic Saint got up in the last stride to defeat Machs Gold by a half head in a tricky finish, with Fong Nien 1.2 metres away in third place after trailing the weakening leader and using the sprint lane to no avail. The mile rate 1-58.7.
Nichols Point (Mildura) trainer David Vozlic combined with Greg Sugars to land the 2240 metre Dreamcatcher @ Haras Des Trotteurs Pace for C1 class with 5Y0 Somebeachsomewhere-Nightn Georgia gelding Monash. Given an easy time from gate three trailing another of the Douglas runners Tenfour drawn outside him, Monash despite looking to be under extreme pressure approaching the home turn, finished best under hard driving to gain the day by a half neck in 2-01.5 over Tenfour and Stonebridge Star which ran home late from the rear to be 3.2 metres back.
The fast class race of the evening was the What The Hill @ Woodlands Stud Pace for C5+ over 1750 metres, with polemarker ex-Kiwi Better Ops a surprise victor at Supertab odds of $24.20 returning a mile rate of 1-54.3.. On paper, it appeared to be a clash of the two fast class horses in Burnaholeinmypocket and Tee Cee Bee Macray who were naturally the two favourites. Speedy much travelled 9Y0 gelding Upanatom a stablemate of Tee Cee Bee Macray began with his usual brilliance to lead from gate five, with Burnaholeinmypocket going forward from outside the front line to race exposed, while Tee Cee Bee Macray was eased to the tail of the field by Greg Sugars. Upanatom was left alone before quickening along the back straight on the final occasion when Burnaholeinmypocket. driven with plenty of vigour by Kate Gath on turning looked as though he was going to gain the day, however Bettor Ops rallied along the sprint lane to get the judges nod by a half head with Tee Cee Bee Macray a neck back in third place after racing three wide solo for the final circuit. A 6Y0 gelded son of Bettors Delight and Special Ops trained at Kialla (Shepparton) by Isabel Walsh and driven by David Moran, Special Ops registered his ninth victory in 43 outings, two of which have been at Swan Hill.
Bunbartha (Shepparton) father and son – John & Matt Newberry snared the Sebastian @ Trump Bloodstock Pace for C2 to C4 class over 2240 metres with another long shot - 7Y0 Always A Virgin-Sweet Maddy Lombo gelding Lombo Idle Belief. Driven by matt, Lombo Idle Belief led throughout from gate two and after being rated to perfection, reached the post 5.2 metres in advance of a death-seating Kotare Mahdi, with old timer Lynden Abbey using the sprint lane from three back the markers a half head away in third place. The mile rate 1-58.
The 2240 metre Aldebaran Eagle @ Aldebaran Park Trotters Handicap saw Bendigo’s Chris Svanosio successful with Sundon-Yankee Princess 6Y0 mare Shesasundon in a rate of 2-04.6. Coming from 30 metres, Shesasundon began swiftly to settle three back along the markers as polemarker Tzu Nien for Greg Sugars opened up a big margin. Giving chase in the last lap, Shesasundon gathered in the leader easily approaching the final bend before coasting clear in the straight to record an easy 31.7 metre victory ahead of the pacemaker which galloped under pressure over the concluding stages, with track specialist Scottish Sardius 16.4 metres away in third place after trailing the winner most of the way from a 40 metre equal backmark.
Echuca part-owner/trainer Ros Rolfe would have been “over the moon” when her home bred 5Y0 Grinfromeartoear-Cisstar gelding Franks Very Much named after her late father, led throughout from the pole to capture the Vincent @ Alabar Pace for C1 class over 1750 metres. Driven a treat by Tatura based Brad Chisholm, Franks Very Much was able to bowl along at his leisure and was never in any danger, strolling to the wire 4.7 metres in advane of The Defiant which trailed in 1-57. Manuela was a battling third 4.7 metres away after racing in the open.
**** The next Swan Hill meeting will be Cup Night Friday October 19.
