The Bendigo track has a rich history and was on show again Wednesday night.
Two meetings were held in Victoria on Wednesday April 16 – the progressive Horsham Club racing in the afternoon, while Tabcorp Park Melton hosted the Bendigo HRC fixture during the evening.
There were a number of highlights at both meetings.
Charlton based trainer/driver Ashley Ainsworth was successful with reliable six year old Conch Deville/Calamity Jay gelding Champ Devine in the Finn Tack – Horze Australia Trotters Handicap for T0 or better class over 2200 metres at Horsham.
Raced by the Ainsworth family, Champ Devine led from a ten metre handicap (there was no front line) and after being rated to perfection, kicked away at the straight entrance to score by 8.7 metres in advance of Hackashaq which faced the breeze from the bell, with Jaden Gil (one/one at bell) third after briefly going off stride on turning. The mile rate 2-07.
Kolora (Terang) trainer/driver Barry Beasley made a long awaited return to the winners list, when five year old Jet Laag/Tartan Dynasty gelding Onlyeconomyclass bred and raced by Ritchie Wallace greeted the judge in the Moore Bulk Haulage Pace for C0 class over 2200 metres.
Given a sweet passage from gate three trailing the pacemaker Missouri Blue (gate five), Onlyeconomyclass was eased away from the markers approaching the final bend and in a punishing finish, prevailed by 1.6 metres in a rate of 2-03.4 to blouse the leader, with Wings Of Delight a game third after racing in the open.
Onlyeconomyclass was last successful in his two year old days, winning at Maryborough in August 2011.
The state’s leading trainer Shayne Cramp travelled down to Horsham from Mildura and went home a big winner after Spokeswoman a four year old daughter of Art Major and Fatalistic snared the Hygain Micrspeed Pace for C4 & C5 class over 2200 metres in a rate of 1-56.5.
Driven by Nathan Jack, Spokewoman led throughout from gate three, blitzing her rivals to record a 9.8 metre victory in advance of Gotta Go Yanky (one/one) and Wheatsheaf Avaball which led up the three wide train from the bell.
Very smart Elsu/Hanover Chic three year old gelding Eliseos Falcon showed he had derived a lot of benefit from a first up outing at Melton two weeks earlier when a strong victor of an action packed Oringi Protection Apparel Pace for C2 & C3 class over 2200 metres in a mile rate of 2-00.8.
Trained by Peter Manning at Great Western and driven by Glen Craven, Eliseos Falcon settled mid-field in the running line from gate three on the second line, with Kerryn Manning’s Burninupthestars (Grant Campbell) leading from gate four until being crossed by Galleons Warrior with a lap to travel.
Commencing a forward move three wide solo racing for the bell, Eliseos Falcon outstayed his rivals to gain a half head decision over a game Metrofromelle which raced in the open from gate three. Paris To Berlin finished third after following the winner home.
Raced by some of trotting biggest names, Tony Prochilo, Ange Cammaroto, Rob Merola and Michael Tarranto, Eliseos Falcon would have been one of the top fancies in the Victoria Derby had he not sustained an injury prior to the heats.
At Melton, Nagambie’s Chris Lang was victorious with beautifully bred Angus Hall/Sunny Elegant colt Elegant Angus on debut in the TAB.com.au 2-Y-0 Trotters Handicap over 2240 metres.
Trained and driven by Chris for NSW owner John Starr, Elegant Angus showed perfect manners to lead throughout from gate two, accounting for the David Aiken trained stablemates Eljaykay Phoenix (four back the markers) and Hadrians Phoenix (three back the markers – three wide home turn) in a rate of 2-13.4.
David Aiken’s honest seven year old fully American bred Conway Hall/Sunworthy mare Sultry Lady raced by wife Colleen upset her short priced stablemate Dizzyinterest to land the Staffordshire Park Trotters Mobile for T1 class over 2240 metres.
Driven by son Joshua, Sultry Lady was trapped in the open from gate four, with Argyle Melody beginning best to lead from gate two.
Gaining cover at the bell when Dizzyinterest which had galloped shortly after the start went forward from last to park in the open for the final circuit before striding clear on straightening, Sultry Lady finished best to register a 1.2 metre victory in 2-05.2, with Tawonga South (three back the markers) third.
Talented Safari/Beris Holmes filly Berisari was a tough winner of the Bendigo Advertiser Pace for C0 class over 2240 metres for Smythes Creek trainer Emma Stewart.
With Nathan Jack in the sulky, Berisari raced in the open from gate six shadowing the smart pacemaker Tallulah Bay, before striding clear halfway up the running to defeat the polemarker Nobetterthanthis along the sprint lane and Awesome Mattjesty (three back the markers – one/one home turn) in a mile rate of 1-59.5.
On what was a great night for David Aiken who also scored with Wounded, Modern Art/Espeshlimade Lombo colt Bespoke Artist made a one act affair of the City Of Greater Bendigo 3-Y-0 Pace over 2240 metres.
Driven by Chris Alford, Bespoke Artist led throughout from the pole and was never out of second gear, scoring by 3.5 metres from Fon Design along the sprint lane from three back the markers and Jay Dee Zed which trailed the winner. The mile rate 1-59.7.
Toolen Vale’s John Justice landed the Bandigo bank Pacers Handicap for C2 or better class over 2240 metres on his home track with Kiwi bred Falcon Seelster/Sabrina Bromac four year old gelding Shakti Bromac in a rate of 2-00.9.
Beginning swiftly from the 20 metre mark, Shakti Bromac possied one/one with the Tasmanian Ptettyboytroy at the head of affairs and looked like figuring in the finish a long way from home.
Taken three wide approaching the home turn, Shakti Bromac dashed passed the leaders on straightening to easily account for Goodtime Mike who’s effort was amazing after missing away hopelessly from 20 metres, with Whata Avenue third after trailing the winner.
