Bendigo was the place to be on Thursday night.
The Bendigo trotting fixture held on Thursday November 28 belonged to the Goulburn Valley and Bendigo area who provided five of the eight winners on program, with Bunbartha horseman John Newberry taking the honours after providing a stable double.
First to come along was talented Earl/Shine On Alisha six-year-old gelding Just Call Me Earl in the CV Batteries Strath Village Trotters Handicap for T1 or better class over 2150 metres.
Starting from a 20-metre equal backmark, Just Call Me Earl bided his time mid-field with Man Of The World (barrier four) working to the front after travelling a couple of hundred metres.
Easing three wide in the final circuit, Newberry in what was “the drive of the night” switched Just Call Me Earl down to the sprint lane, before finishing strongly to defeat Man Of The World and Jusamirel which raced rough on more than one occasion. The mile rate 2-05.1.
Raced by the Newberry family, Just Call Me Earl has fronted the starter on 63 occasions for nine wins.
Leg two came about when lightly raced four-year-old Monarchy/Shine On Alisha gelding The Majestic scored in the Freedom Tanks Trotters Mobile for T0 class over 1650 metres in a mile rate 2-02.2.
A surprisingly short priced even money favourite, The Majestic (gate two) settled three back in the moving line and driven with the patience of Jobe, was taken four wide on the final bend before putting the race away with ease, defeating Brother Of Sonoko and Ballan Road which led.
Echuca/Moama trainer Shane Gilligan four-year-old Northern Luck/Soap Box mare Mary Mon returned to form when successful in the Bendigo Cup Eve Cocktail Party 10 January Pace for C2 class over 1650 metres.
Taking a concession, Mary Mon driven by son Tom was restrained to the rear of the field from gate six prior to gaining a three wide trail in the last lap on the back of both Johnny Tee and Flyin Indi Air.
Despite making the home turn very wide, Mary Mon, a half sister to the smart juvenile Lady Belladonna, finished all over the top of her rivals to score from Flying Indi Air and Johnny Tee in a rate of 1-57.
Charlton’s Mark Boyle has Blissful Hall/Lensmare six-year-old gelding Xbolt racing at the top of his game, landing the Christmas @ Lord’s Raceway 12 December Pace for C0 class over 1650 metres.
With Neil McCallumin the sulky, Xbolt began swiftly from gate five to lead throughout in a rate of 1-58.6, defeating The Muse which raced outside him, with the hot favourite Heathbern Star running on late when extricated clear of a pocket three back the markers to finish third.
Shelbourne trainer Larry Eastman’s above average Northern Luck/Decethree Lombo five-year-old mare Lombo Cloud Nine treated her rivals with contempt in the N.Y.E Party @ Lord’s Raceway 31 December Pace for C3-4 class over 2150 metres with Chris Alford in the sulky.
Sent forward from outside the front row to settle three back in the moving line, Alford was off and running in the back straight on the first occasion to be surprisingly handed the lead on a platter from the last start Ballarat winner Tere T.
Travelling under double wraps for the rest of the journey, Lombo Cloud Nine coasted to the wire six metres in advance of Tere T and Nimble Jack (three back the markers) in a rate of 2-00.2 to record her 10th victory in 42 starts.
Astute Avenel trainer/driver Ian Montgomery provided a smart first starter by the name of Captain Under Fire to blitz his rivals in the Bendigo Bank 3YO Pace over 2150 metres, leading throughout from the pole in accounting for Notjustanothalombo (three back the markers) by 22.7 metres in a rate of 2-00.9. Braeview Bomber finished third after racing in the open.
Bolinda trainer/driver Lisa Miles also provided a winner on debut when four-year-old Four Starzzz Shark/Sassy Stoneridge mare Denim Npearls greeted the judge in the Victorian Equine Group Pace for C0 class over 1650 metres.
Taken back from gate two as the start was effected, Denim Npearls positioned three back in the moving line, before unleashing a powerful burst out wide on straightening to impressively gain the day over Majestic Swan which led and Imsosweetaboucha which followed the winner home in the final circuit. The mile rate 1-58.7.
