Kate and Andy Gath, pictured with Elegant Image, combined for three winners at Cranbourne on Tuesday night.
It was a night of multiple successes on Tuesday at Cranbourne with husband and wife team Andy and Kate Gath chalking up a hat-trick of wins and the all-conquering Emma Stewart stable snaring a winning double.
Andy and Kate produced a former Kiwi filly, C C Chevron, to take the Condo’s Horse Transport 3YO Pace over 2080 metres at her Australian debut.
Not pushed from gate four as the mobile gate pulled away, C C Chevron was allowed to find her feet settling in the open, with Dancing Da Vinci inside her leading.
Cruising to the front on the final bend, C C Chevron, a daughter of Art Major and C C Lobell having her first outing since September 14, scored by 10.9 metres in advance of first-starter Yackandandah (three back the markers – three-wide home turn), with Orbison Castle (one-one) third. The mile rate 2:02.0.
Honest five-year-old Village Jasper/Andrells Love gelding Givemeaspell greeted the judge in the Decron Horse Care Pace for C0 class over 2080 metres, returning a mile rate of 2:02.3.
Despite racing without cover from gate three for the entire trip, Givemeaspell proved too strong at the finish for the pacemaker Gotta Go Henry to give the Melton area the quinella, the margin 1.6 metres. Father Frank finished third from three back in the moving line.
Another former New Zealander Qtown Rip Roaring, which has created a big impression winning his only two starts in Australia, brought up the hat-trick with a strong victory in the Hyland Sportswear Pace for C2 class over 1609 metres.
Surprisingly slowly out from gate two with Jare burning away from six to lead, Qtown Rip Roaring settled three back in the running line with the second favourite Celebrity Lass also slowly away from the pole.
Moving a spot closer racing for the bell as Bettor Than Best crossed the leader, Qtown Rip Roaring was eased three-wide approaching the home turn and gave his supporters a scare as he took a little time to get going.
Once balanced, however, Qtown Rip Roaring charged to the wire to score impressively by 4.1 metres from Better Than Best and Mediation (three back the markers) in a mile rate of 1:57.8.
A four-year-old gelded son of Courage Under Fire and Zara Rose, Qtown Rip Roaring has fronted the starter on 30 occasions, having won only twice in his homeland.
The Stewart stable double came courtesy of two four-year-olds – Safari/Minda Madonna entire Teixeira in the Seelite Windows & Doors Pace for C1 class over 2080 metres with Gavin Lang in the sulky, and Real Desire/Graces Beach gelding Goodtime Bobby driven by Chris Alford in the Trio’s After The Last Pace for C3 & C4 over 2080 metres.
Teixeira led throughout from gate three to easily account for Gozo Lighting (one/two – three wide last lap) by 6.3 metres in a rate of 1:59.6, with Village Cruiser a disappointing third after trailing the winner.
Goodtime Bobby had to earn his stripes and after being crossed from the pole, immediately moved away from the markers to race in the open, with Lance Justice putting the foot to the floor aboard Phil Monty from outside the front line to lead in a breeze.
In a titanic battle all the way up the straight, Goodtime Bobby just lasted to stall off a flying Amazing Kano (one/two) by a half-head which sprouted wins in the shadows of the post. Phil Monty was a head away third in the closest finish of the night. The mile rate 2:00.9.
Daylesford trainer Mick Barby was victorious with improving six-year-old In The Pocket/Beauty Rainbow mare Pocket Of Fortune in the Aldebaran Park Trotters Mobile for T0 & T1 class over 2080 metres.
Driven by wife Anne-Maree Conroy who works with father Bob, Pocket Of Fortune lobbed beautifully one/one from gate four with Opia leading from the pole.
Taken three-wide along the back straight on the final occasion, Pocket Of Fortune appeared to have the race in his keeping a long way out, but only had a half neck to spare at the finish over Opia which fought on gamely in a rate of 2:05.7. The Dutchman finished third after trailing the winner before moving away from the markers in the last lap to be held up momentarily.
St Arnaud trainer Brian Kiesey caused a major upset in the Dooza Sulky Pace for C0 class over 1609 metres when Shoe Shine Boy won at odds of $48.90 greeted the judge.
Driven by Ararat’s Michael Bellman, Shoe Shine Boy – starting outside the front row – was taken back to last with Chris Lang Jnr’s heavily backed favourite Midnight Lights leading from gate four.
Gaining a three-wide trail home in the final circuit on the back of Dirty Deeds ahead of him, Shoe Shine Boy when eased wide on turning, swamped his rivals to record a runaway 3.1-metre victory over the pacemaker and Bettor Biaggi, which trailed the leader in a rate of 2:00.9.
