John Caldow steered Frank The Duck to success.
Oddly named former New Zealander Frank The Duck was successful in taking the Melbourne Cup Day Pace for C0 class over 2150 metres at Yarra Valley on Monday September 30 when making his first appearance on Australian soil.
A winner at Addington on July 26, Frank The Duck hadn’t raced since August 23 and was sent out an almost unbackable $1.30 favourite after starting from outside the front line.
Trained by Joe Borg at Melton and driven by John Caldow, Frank The Duck a four-year-old gelded son of Jeremes Jet and Take Her Easy Tiger was given an easy time one/one following Lets Go Happy after being restrained as the starter released the field, with Ryans Lane (gate three) leading for Dianne Giles.
Moving outside the pacemaker approaching the final bend when Lets Go Happy had dropped to the back of the leader, Frank The Duck was much too strong over the concluding stages for Ryans Lane and Lets Go Happy in a mile rate of 2-01.5.
Raced by Simon Sciberras who has been a staunch stable client, Frank The Duck chalked up his third victory in 15 outings.
Popular Romsey trainer Leigh Miles’ four-year-old Four Starzzz Shark/Norwood Abbey mare Sukhovey Wind brought up her second victory when scoring in the Oaks Day Pace for C0 class (mares) over 2150 metres.
With Greg Sugars in the sulky, Sukhovey Wind was given an easy time one/one from gate two and when eased three wide in the last lap, finished her race off well in defeating Melegend along the sprint lane from three back the markers, with the last start Cranbourne winner Hunzarella weakening to finish third after leading. The mile rate 2-03.6.
The age old adage in racing – the more you win – the better the price certainly applies to Cohuna owner Grant Lunghusen’s four-year-old Browning Blue Chip/Above The Rest mare Joelles Dream who brought up a hat-trick of wins by taking out the Harness Breeders (Vic) Pace for C1-2 class restricted to the fairer sex over 1650 metres, paying TAB.com.au odds of $10.60.
Trained and driven by Whittlesea horseman Mark Peace, Joelles Dream starting from gate two on the second line settled three back in the moving line, before being sent forward three wide uncovered in the last lap.
Asked for a supreme effort on straightening, Joelles Dream responded to the call, scoring by a half-head over a death-seating Miss Fidelity in a rate of 2-01.3. Eleventh Command was a half head away in third place after leading in the closest finish of the day.
Impressive Kiwi import Macho Comacho a gelded five-year-old son of Royal Mattjesty and Alberts Daughter made it two from two in Australia, when greeting the judge in the Eastland Pacers Handicap for C1 or better class over 2150 metres.
Raced by prominent owners Tony and Pam Coniglio, Macho Comacho trained by Dean Braun at Lara and driven by Nathan Jack had little trouble in finding the front running from a 20-metre equal backmark, before toying with his rivals to win in a breeze from Hellfire Angel (three back the markers) along the sprint lane and The Dip (four back the markers - four wide home turn) in an unextended mile rate of 2-02.9.
Sidelined Bolinda trainer Chris Alford landed the De Bortoli Pace for C3-4 class over 2150 metres with bonny Bettors Delight/Forest Glory five-year-old mare Bellasario.
Bred and raced by Jack and Nola Munnerley, Bellasario taking a concession for the stable’s Josh Duggan, led throughout from the pole to defeat Conflict Of Interest which trailed by 2.6 metres in a rate of 2-00.3, with Magical Molly third from mid-field in the running line.
