Chris Shinn aboard Alina winning at Melton.
Wallan’s Ruth Shinn was in the winners stall at her home track Kilmore on Thursday when home bred Art Major/Shanghi filly Shishi greeted the judge in the 3YO Pace over 1690 metres.
Raced by several members of the Shinn family and Ruth’s mother Dot Evans, Shishi driven by son Chris enjoyed a lovely passage from gate two trailing the pole line leader and favourite Viva Safari, before using the sprint lane to score by 1.6 metres in a rate of 1:59.3, with stablemate Aurore (Noel Shinn) third after racing in the open from gate three.
Young local Thomas Parnell was successful on the night with four-year-old Royal Mattjesty/Amarooka Jazz gelding Giant Steps in the Raceday Packages Now Available Pacers Handicap for C0 class over 2150 metres in a mile rate of 2:02.8.
Driven by Rita Burnett, Giant Steps led throughout from barrier four, just lasting by a nose from Chief Destroyer along the sprint lane from three back the markers, with old-timer Kaka Point Coast third after following the winner all of the way.
Wayne Potter’s smart Modern Art/Yeronga Ecila four-year-old entire Sketch Me raced by the Northern Fascia Racing Syndicate landed the Kilmore Florist Pace for C2 class over 2180 metres.
With Nathan Jack in the sulky, Sketch Me from gate two on the second line enjoyed a cosy trip off the speed as polemaker Donated, Ocean Bay and Miss Metro Glen all vied for the front early.
Set alight with a rush approaching the bell, Sketch Me dashed to the front entering the straight with a circuit to travel, before handing over to Josh Benson’s Future Operator to enjoy the run of the race for the last lap.
Not waiting for the sprint lane to come into play, Sketch Me was taken away from the markers on the final bend and in a punishing finish, prevailed by 1.4 metres over Yerrington Bob (four-wide home turn from four back the markers at the bell). Bettor Than Best gained inside runs to finish third. The mile rate 1:58.8.
Live Or Die/Virginia Khan four year old gelding Koora Khan scored in the Phoenix Designs Pace for C1 class over 1690 metres to give the same connections a double for the night.
Taken back off the gate from outside the front row by Nathan Jack, Koora Khan settled with most of the field ahead of him with Native Charm (gate two) leading, before surrendering to the well supported Art Of Locksley (one/two) at the bell.
Gaining a three-wide trail on the back of Greenough in the last lap, Koora Khan sprinted like a gazelle to lead on turning and bounded away to register a 8.5-metre victory in advance of Native Charm and Art Of Locksley in a slick 1:58.5.
Daylesford duo Mick Barby and Anne-Maree Conroy were victorious with improving six year old In The Pocket/Beauty Rainbow mare Pocket To Fortune in the Like Us On Facebook Trotters Handicap for T1 or better class over 2150 metres.
Beginning safely fom barrier five, Pocket Of Fortune was soon outside the roughie Marios Dream which led from barrier two and strode clear shortly after.
Shadowed by Zoes Dream for most of the race, with the 30-metre favourite Tyron Lochie joining in three-wide from the bell, Pocket Of Fortune gave a kick on the home turn and held a margin to the wire, scoring by 2 metres over Tyron Lochie and Looks A Moral which trailed the runner up home. The mile rate 2:07.6.
Riddell trainer Adam Kelly and stable reinsman Gavin Lang landed the Christmas Lunch @ Trackside Pace for C3 & C4 class over 2180 metres with Kiwi bred five-year-old gelding My Zach Bromac in a rate of 1:58.7.
Starting from the extreme draw, My Zach Bromac (Mach Three/Zante Beach) settled at the tail of the field before setting off three wide solo at the bell.
Accommodated by Show Heza Classic coming out ahead of him in the back straight on the final occasion, Gavin Lang gained the trail he was looking for and when taken wide on turning, My Zach Bromac finished best to tip out the pacemaker Supreme Genes by a half neck in 1:58.7, with Show Heza Classic close up in third place.
Cranbourne trainer Mick Hughes combined with Chris Alford to land the A Harness Christmas 10th December 3Y0 Trotters Mobile over 1690 metres with Dream Vacation/Cloud Chaser gelding Livin The Life in 2:07.4 much to the delight of a large group of high-profile owners.
Given the run of the race from the pole following Sosogood (gate three), Livin The Life first up since June, finished hard along the sprint lane to blouse the leader by a head, with Turn Up Trumps (three back the markers – three wide home turn) third.
The other winner of the program was Sutton Grange trainer Ross Graham’s recent stable addition Edge Hill in the Jet Roofing Vicbred Trotters Handicap for T0 class over 2150 metres.
Driven by Daryl Douglas, the four-year-old daughter of Great Success and Rocket Fantasy despite a slow beginning from outside the front line, led for the majority of the journey, winning easily by 8.5 metres from Zoomalong Johnny and No Trumps No Glory in 2:06.1.
