Brent Lilley has a happy knack of finding a handy trotter and Glintintheeye was impressive on debut.
The first start baby trotters stepped out at Maryborough on Thursday March 6 to contest the 136 Days To Seelite Redwood 2-Y-0 Trotters Handicap over 1690 metres, with victory going the way of Wind Cries Maori/Tachometer gelding Glintintheeye for Bolinda trainer Brent Lilley.
Raced by Bruce Dalton proprietor of the World’s Best Hoof Oil, Glintintheye driven by Chris Alford showed impeccable manners from the pole and after trailing Welkin Park (barrier five) and Est Est Est (barrier seven) into the first turn, was able to cross Est Est Est after Welkin Park galloped to assume control.
Trotting faultlessly, Glintintheeye scored by 9.9 metres from Welkin Park which got going again to settle three back the markers, with the heavily supported Mister Oz third after an early break and racing wide for the final circuit.
Est Est Est looked likely to fill a placing, but went off stride approaching the home turn.
The mile rate a respectable 2-10.8.
Ballarat trotting devotee Pat Prendergast who along with his family have been involved in the sport for an eternity, was in the winners stall when home bred Grinfromeartoear/Victory Cheer gelding Grinning Cheer greeted the judge in the Pryde’s Easifeed 3-Y-0 Vicbred Pace over 1690 metres.
Trained at Sebastopol by long time associate Vin Mahar, Grinning Cheer with Greg Sugars in the sulky led throughout from the pole, accounting for the ex-South Australian Rate Highly by 1.7 metres which raced outside him in a rate of 1-57.5. First starter Grinning Dollar also by Grinfromeartoear finish third after racing in the open.
Maryborough wouldn’t be Maryborough without the trotters being prominent at each meeting and Nagambie master Chris Lang produced a four year old mare by the name of Russian Tiavon to land the Lyn McPherson MemorialBreed For Speed Series H for T0 class over 1609 metres.
A daughter of Sundon and Blue Lock, Russian Tiavon first up for almost 12 months showed plenty of speed from gate five to take over shortly after the start and with Lang dictating the terms to suit, defied all challengers to score from Nomistakingpegasus (three back the markers) and I Dream It (one/one – three wide home turn) in a rate of 2-02.7.
The Australasian Premier Trotting Sale Trotters Handicap for T1 or better class over 2190 metres went the way of four year old Bacardi Lindy/Jewel Of The Night entire Basil Knight giving young Bendigonian Haydon Gray a return to the winners list after an enforced holiday courtesy of the stewards.
Trained by uncle David Van Ryn at Maiden Gully, Basil Knight starting from 10 metres settled a long way back in the field, with the roughie Dark Jasper leading from barrier four.
Giving away a huge start in the last lap, Basil Knight gradually made ground, before running home at a great rate on turning to gain the day in advance of Sunnyandcher (one/four), with the well tried Senitas Success using the sprint lane for third after being mid-field in the moving line at the bell. The mile rate 2-06.7.
