A Local Victory At Echuca

04 December 2013 | Len Baker
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Zac Phillips, pictured here behind Veranjee, scored on Juke Cartel on Tuesday night at Echuca.

Zac Phillips, pictured here behind Veranjee, scored on Juke Cartel on Tuesday night at Echuca.

Moama breeder/owner/trainer/driver Mal Whiteford was successful at his home track Frank Ryan Raceway Echuca on Tuesday December 3, when more than handy four-year-old Artesian/Kamwood Toy mare Kamwood Dawn scored in the Christies Welding Vicbred Pace for C1 class over 1755 metres.

Settling mid-field in the moving line from gate four on the second line, Kamwood Dawn was set alight three wide approaching the bell and with a sharp turn of speed, crossed the pacemaker Billy Branach to lead for the final circuit.

Holding a slender margin at the straight entrance, Kamwood Dawn defied all challengers to register a 1.2-metre victory over the heavily supported Final Flutter which moved outside her on the final bend after an easy time, with Billy Branach battling away gamely for third. The mile rate 1-59.4.

It was Kamwood Girl’s third victory in 28 outings.

Kilmore’s Bruce Kennedy always sends his horses out looking a picture and four-year-old Four Starzzz Shark/Krisney mare Krisney Girl rewarded him by taking the Add Print Pace for C0 class over 1755 metres in a rate of 2-01.4 with Chris Alford in the sulky.

Starting from gate two on the second line, Krisney Girl had most of the field ahead of her for the first lap, before gaining a lovely three wide trail home in the last lap on the back of the Riverina visitor Donated which was backed for plenty, with the pair joining the pacemaker Direct Art on the home turn.

Given full rein on turning, Krisney Girl prevailed by 1.9 metres from Donated and Direct Art which led for the final circuit after racing outside Miss Wong Su for the first half of the journey.

Kyneton part-owner/trainer Tony Trimboli’s Earl/Arnees Sensation six-year-old gelding Arctic Wolf snared his sixth victory in 89 race appearances, when successful in the Wandana Standardbreds Trotters Handicap for T0 or better class over 2530 metres.

With regular reinsman Tony Xiriha handling the ribbons, Arctic Wolf, from the 10-metre mark, was unable to cross Featherfoot Sun shortly after the start, being restrained for a perfect trail.

Easing into the open approaching the bell, Xiriha put the foot to the floor to lead for the final circuit and in a punishing finish, just held on from Doctor Sam which  failed by a nose and Featherfoot Sun in a mile rate of 2-07.8.

Speedy Kilmore mare Modern Mary chalked up her eighth victory when greeting the judge in the $5,500 Echuca Moama Storage Moama Pacing Cup for C4-5 class over 2160 metres.

Trained by Julie Mifsud and driven by sister-in-law Rita Burnett, Modern Mary, a five-year-old daughter of Modern Art and Marys Girl first up since August, began like a rocket from outside the front line to lead running into the first turn and after being rated a treat, held too many guns at the finish for the hot favourite Gangster Boy which trailed, moving outside her on the final bend, with Fergus McCool (three back the markers) third. The mile rate 1-59.4.

Melton trainer “Honest” Robbie O’Connell combined with stable apprentice Zac Phillips to land the Moama Bowling Club Pace for C1 class over 2160 metres with eight-year-old E Dees Cam/Universal Alice gelding Juke Kartel.

Given a beaut passage three back along the markers from gate two on the second line, Juke Kartel was eased to be one/one approaching the final bend and when taken three wide on turning, ran home strongly to score by 6.3 metres in a rate of 2-00.7 from Brother Rabbit which trailed the weakening leader and third placed Transaction.

Juke Kartel was also a winner at the previous Echuca meeting on October 1.

Ever reliable nine-year-old Peace Of Art/Bubblegum mare Bubble Art always races well at this time of year, bringing up her 13th victory by taking the Choicehotels.com.au Pace for C2-3 class over 1755 metres much to the delight of Wallaloo East (Stawell) trainer/driver Troy Raven and the Raven family.

Using a mare’s concession, Bubble Art starting from the pole was given a sweet trip on the back of the leader and favourite Lookatime Philo next to her, which crossed after racing roughly at the start.

Easing wide on straightening, Bubble Art despite shifting out, gained the day by a half neck over Goldiedomic along the sprint lane off her back, with Scottish Glamour (one/one – three wide last lap) third. The mile rate 1-59.9.

Marong trainer Trevor Patching has been a regular competitor at Echuca over the years and snared the Bendigo Bank Vicbred Pace for C0 class over 2160 metres with lightly raced eight-year-old Safely Kept/Westmoor Elegance gelding Sherpa Star in a rate of 2-03.2.

Given the run of the race from the pole following Foyer (gate five), Sherpa Star making his 11th race appearance was eased away from the markers by Nathan Jack on the home turn and finished best to gain the day by 2.5 metres in advance of Foyer and Thelove Child (three back the markers).

Serpentine trainer Robert Rothacker joined forces with Daryl Douglas to capture the Echuca Cup 21 March Pace for C0 class over 2160 metres with five-year-old Art Major/Rachelanne mare Policious.

Having her ninth outing and second for the season, Policious from gate three on the second line settled well back in the field, making ground at the bell trailing the well backed Thankbonnie three wide.

Dropping in for a breather in the final circuit as Thankbonnie applied pressure to the pacemaker Pascarma, striding clear approaching the home turn, Policious issued an immediate challenge on turning and raced clear over the concluding stages to score from Pascarma which came again, with Miss Tanami running on late to cut Thankbonnie out of third. The mile rate 2-02.6.

Benalla trainer Jason Ross combined with Nathan Jack aboard four-year-old Blissful Hall/Flighty Lisa mare The Hen House to land the New Years Night Hot To Trot Vicbred Pace for C0 class over 2160 metres, leading virtually throughout from gate four in defeating Brown Rice and Katie Lively in a rate of 2-01.7.

 

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