Josh Duggan, pictured here behind Stylish Jasper, had a winning day yesterday.
Two meetings were held in Victoria on Wednesday February 12, with Tabcorp Park Melton playing host to the Geelong Club during the afternoon and Shepparton racing at night.
Listed are some of the highlights :
At Melton, Astute Lara trainer Dean Braun produced yet another former Kiwi by the name of Unico Pegasus to take the Apco Easy Shops Trotters Handicap for T1 or better class over 2760 metres when making his Australian debut.
Coming off a couple of impressive trials, Unico Pegasus was always a short priced favourite and justified the quote with an easy victory much to the delight of prominent stable clients Tony and Pam Coniglio.
Starting from a 30 metre handicap, Unico Pegasus was away like a bullet to settle mid-field in the running line, moving to be one/one when Tawonga South ahead of him dropped to the markers.
Not waiting, Chris Alford let rip racing for the bell to lead for the final circuit, winning by 11.6 metres in a mile rate of 2-03.7 over Happy Hombre who was always handy along the inside, easing to issue a belated challenge on the home turn, with Tawonga South a further 7.2 metres away in third place.
A six year old gelded son of Pegasus Spur and Chiola’s Gem, Unico Pegasus formerly trained in the South Island by Greg & Nina Hope was having his first outing since May last year when fourth at Ashburton.
Strathfieldsaye trainer Glenn Douglas combined with Josh Duggan to land a stable double – Boort Cup winner of last season Daylight Dan greeting the judge in the Geelong @ Tabcorp Park Pace for C3 & C4 class over 2240 metres and most reliable seven year old Falcon Seelster/Dont Temp Me gelding Johnny Tee the Corio Waste Management Claiming Pace over 2240 metres.
Daylight Dan a five year old gelding by Dawn Ofa New Day from Our Madame, began swiftly from gate two to lead out, before immediately being restrained to follow the well supported Jaxon Fella from the nearby stable of Alison Chisholm.
Moving to the outside on the final bend, Daylight Dan proved too strong over the concluding stages for the roughie Dainty Cloud (three back the markers), with Jaxon Fella weakening to finish third. The mile rate 1-57.2.
Johnny Tee starting from the extreme draw settled with most of the field ahead of him, but was suited by the slick tempo when the leader Longtan Tigerman copped plenty of pressure from both You Lazy Boy and Keeper Of The Fire (three wide), with Keeper Of The Fire eventually striding clear racing for the bell.
Gaining a beaut three wide trail home on the back of Corbin Lee ahead of him in the last lap, Johnny Tee prevailed by a half head from Corbin Lee in a rate of 1-59.4, with Red Riverbed (five wide home turn) a half neck away in third place a nose in advance of Keeper Of The Fire. The mile rate 1-59.4.
Bullengarook’s Graham Lee loves the squaregaiters and snared the Next Race Meet @ Geelong 20th Feb Trotters Handicap for T0 class over 2240 metres at the Geelong fixture held at TabcorpPark Melton on Wednesday February 12 with four year old Armbro Invasion/Speedy Jolter gelding Speedy Rambo in a mile rate of 2-06.3, recording his first victory in 13 outings.
Beginning best from the pole, Speedy Rambo was untroubled to lead throughout, defeating Tiroroa Tom (barrier three) which trailed after an unsuccessful bid for the lead by 11.9 metres, with My Turn My Turn (three back the markers) 29.6 metres back in third place.
At Shepparton, Elmore owner/trainer Jenny Johnson’s most consistent Last Sunset/Springfield Paula five year old gelding Sunset Tour brought up two wins in succession by taking the Helen Hastie Trotters Handicap for T0 or better class over 2190 metres in a mile rate of 2-05.5.
Driven by Bendigo’s Paul Campbell, Sunset Tour starting from a 20 metre handicap settled five back in the running line, with the polemarker Yankee Mara jumping straight to the front as the tapes released.
Moving three wide solo in the last lap, Sunset Tour sustained a long run to defeat a game 30 metre equal backmarker Dabbsey which faced the open, with Yankee Mara holding down third.
Five year old Village Jasper/Chenille mare Balcony registered her second victory in 21 race appearances when successful in the Carol Pearce Pace for C0 class over 1690 metres.
Given the run of the race one/one from gate four following the red hot favourite Bromac Del Mar inside her with the Narrandera raider Lynmarg Lady (gate two) leading after the polemarker Ninnas Sister refused to score up, Balcony trained and driven by Avenel’s Colin Duncan did best in a slugging finish to prevail by a head in 1-59.9 from Bromac Del Mar, with Quirinus (three wide last lap from three back in the moving line) third.
Noted speedster Scottish Glamour recorded her 10th victory in 40 outings by returning a mile rate of 1-55.9 in the Leongatha Gippsland Pace for C4 & C5 class over 1690 metres.
Burning away from gate four with local reinsman David Moran in the sulky, Scottish Glamour defied all challengers in defeating Bon Jovi which trailed from the pole, with Revivalist (three back the markers) rushing home late when clear to finish third.
Trained at Euroa by Danny Thackeray, Scottish Glamour is raced by Lauriston Bloodstock Pty Ltd.
Glenn Douglas repeated his afternoon session with another double – bonny mare Rogers Passion taking the 3rd Heat of the VHRSC Provincial Cup Pace for C1 or better class over 2190 metres and in-form ex-Kiwi gelding Nimble Jack the Mt Prospect Pace for C2 & C3 class over the same distance, both handled by Greg Sugars.
Nimble Jack (Falcon Seelster/Toast To Cullen) led from the bell to account for Colby Reilly and Brother Rabbit in a rate of 1-59.1, while Rogers Passion (Art Major/Intrude) scored in almost identical fashion, crossing to lead at the bell in defeating Cool Machrista and Sophies Ideal in 1-57.6.
