Kylie Sugars.
Hopetoun Park trainer Kylie Sugars would have been elated when much-travelled six-year-old It Is I/Monaloo gelding Lord Monaloo scored a first-up victory for the stable at Geelong trots on Tuesday, winning the Devcon Properties Pace for C6 & C7 class over 2100 metres.
Driven by brother Greg, Lord Monaloo, which started his career in Victoria before moving to South Australia then having a stint in NSW before re-appearing for the Sugars camp, was trapped wide from gate six following Astronaut, which started inside him, with speedy mare Isabelle Delacour leading from gate two after the hot favourite Must Be Nice galloped away from the pole.
Going forward to park in the open, Lord Monaloo outstayed Isabelle Delacour to score by 3.1 metres in a rate of 1:59.1, with Astronaut 2.3 metres away in third place.
Melton’s Ian Hunter was in the winners stall on the night when five-year-old Blissful Hall/Yora Special Lombo gelding Ruben Hall broke his maiden status at start number 16 to salute the judge in the Faggs Mitre 10 North Geelong Pace for C0 class over 1609 metres with John Justice in the sulky.
Trapped in the open from gate four, Ruben Hall dropped down to follow the poleline pacemaker and favourite Bettor Biaggi after The Righteous One which was trailing went off stride running into the first turn.
Using the sprint lane, Ruben Hall did best to defeat Clipper (five wide home turn from mid-field) by a head in a tricky finish, with honest gelding Giant Steps close up in third place after racing in the open. The mile rate 1:59.3.
Year in, year out Sunshine owner/trainer Charlie Attard comes up with a handy juvenile and Major In Art/Golden Navajo colt Im The Boss is no exception recording his fourth straight victory when successful in the Faggs Mitre 10 Colac 3YO Pace over 2100 metres.
Driven once again by Greg Sugars, Im The Boss showed terrific speed from gate six to lead and although challenged strongly by a death-seating Cosell on the final bend who may have taken a narrow lead, rallied to account for a gallant Cosell by a head in 1:59.8. Sammy Seelster, which trailed the winner before easing wide in the straight, finished third.
Kilmore trainer/driver Robbie Walters captured the Faggs Mitre 10 South Geelong Pacers Handicap for C1 or better class over 2100 metres with iron mare Hollys Miss Molly.
A daughter of Jet Laag and Lombo Luvbird who was making her 93rd race appearance, Hollys Miss Molly raced by Caroline Albers began swiftly from ten metres to slot in nicely three back in the moving line, with the roughie Starlight Logan stepping straight to the front from barrier two.
Moving three wide approaching the home turn, Hollys Miss Molly did best over the concluding stages to score by a metre over Starlight Logan and the favourite Funny Car which trailed the leader using the sprint lane to no avail.The mile rate 2:02.8.
Macedon Ranges trainer/drivers David and Lisa Miles each provided a winner at the meeting, David snaring the Harness Breeders (Vic) Pace for C1 & C2 class (mares) over 2100 metres with recent stable addition Four Zoe and Lisa with extremely talented squaregaiter Roy Hobbs in the Faggs Mitre 10 Torquay Trotters Handicap for T1 or better class over 2100 metres, both horses bringing up two wins in succession at their second outing for the season.
Four Zoe a five-year-old daughter of Four Starzzz Shark and Catz N Ratz wasn’t bustled from outside the front line, but gathered speed very quickly to zoom across the leader Mumbai Majik running into the first turn.
Allowed to dictate the terms of the race with no pressure being applied, Four Zoe raced away on straightening to score easily in advance of Mumbai Majik and the well supported Mymumsabankmanager (four back the markers – three back on the final bend) in a mile rate of 2:02.2.
Five year old Great Success/Our First Strike gelding Roy Hobbs was outstanding in his victory, returning a new track record of 2:02.9 for the journey.
Stepping slowly but safely from 20 metres, Roy Hobbs settled at the tail of the field with the pace a cracker as Command The Wind (20 metres) was sent forward by Craig Hoban to apply plenty of pressure to the pole line leader Speedy Rambo, eventually crossing to assume control at the bell.
At this stage of the race Roy Hobbs was still last giving the leaders a tidy start before commencing a forward move.
Accommodated by Bitten By Walhalla easing out ahead of him, Roy Hobbs received a beaut three wide ride home in the final circuit and when asked for an effort approaching the home turn, quickly put a gap on his rivals to register a 14 metre margin (last half 61.5 – quarter 29.9) over Bitten By Walhalla and Mallee Trapper from mid-field.
It was Roy Hobbs’ 6th victory in 14 race appearances.
Other winners on the program were Kyvalley Pink (Chris Lang & Chris Alford) in the Faggs Mitre 10 Wallington Vicbred Platinum Country Series D for Trotters T0 & T1 class over 2100 metres and Whisper Jet (Kerryn Manning) the Corio Waste Management Pace for C3 & C4 class over 2100 metres.
