Kate Gath.
Long Forest's Kate Gath gave her rivals a lesson at the Terang trots on Tuesday with three winners on the eight-event card – two for husband, trainer Andy, and one for father Peter Thompson.
Four-year-old Art Major/Dune Jaccka entire Major Score was first to arrive when successful in the Goodtime Lodge Vicbred Pace over 1609m.
Showing speed from four, Major Score led throughout to account for This Girls On Fire, which trailed, and Artistic Wings (one-one at bell) in a mile rate rate of 2:01.6.
Always Arjay, a three-year-old gelding by Always A Virgin from Shove Off, was a strong winner of the Mitavite Pace over 2160m when a short-priced favourite in a rate of 2:02.6.
Taken back off the gate from outside the front row to settle at the tail of the field with the second favourite The Gun Rockstar leading from five, Always Arjay moved into the one-one spot for the last lap and when eased three-wide approaching the home turn ran home impressively to gain the day by 2.3m with Sassy Man (one-one) using the sprint lane for third after dropping to the inside in the final circuit.
Peter Thompson’s six-year-old McArdle/Soky’s Number mare Blue Seelster returned to the winners list in the Terang CRT Store Pace over 2180m.
Given every opportunity one-one from gate four, Blue Seelster was taken three-wide on the home turn and finished best to score from Tearitup from a mile back and Big Boy Blue (four back the markers) in a rate of 2:01.4.
On a night of multiple victories, Terang trainer Marg Lee and reinsman son Jason snared a stable double with exciting four-year-old Art Major/Deltas Dream gelding Keayang Active in the Barastoc Pace over 1680m and Village Jasper/Jewell Of Cobargo seven-year-old gelding Cobargo Jack in the Dick & Anne Box Pace over 1680m.
Keayang Active’s victory was outstanding as he was posted three-wide for the greater portion of the journey after being taken away from inside the second line shortly after the start.
Surging to the front prior to the home turn, Keayang Active careered away to record a 14.6m margin in advance of Glenthorne from last in a rate of 1:58.2, with Glenferrie Breeze third after always being handy.
Cobargo Jack led throughout from the pole and was never in any danger, scoring by 6.9 metres in a rate of 1:57.9 from a death-seating Partyboy Glenwood (Kate Gath) and the consistent Whats The Big Idea (one/one).
Keeping it in the family, Glen Craven’s six-year-old Armbro Operative/Jilliby Flame mare Jilliby Daphne led throughout from the pole to defeat the favourite Givemeaspell off a three-wide trail from last in the Terang Co-Op Pace over 2180m. Big Gorilla (three back the markers) ran third. The mile rate 2:02.2.
St Arnaud trainer Brian Kiesey’s six-year-old Pegasus Spur/Agincourt mare Its Not Dark Yet brought up her third success in 34 starts when greeting the judge in the Salmon’s Catering Trotters Handicap for T0 or better class over 2180 metres.
Driven by Michael Bellman, Its Not Dark Yet came from 20m and settled mid-field in the running line before following moving forward three-wide in the last lap.
Dropping in for a short breather one-one before the home turn, Its Not Dark Yet when taken wide on straightening, finished best to gain the major prize over a death-seating Lombo Scrutinizer and William John (three back the markers) in a rate of 2:07.8.
Werribee trainer Jeff Tabone combined with Daryl Douglas to land the Morsbearings 3YO Pace over 1680m with smart Bettor’s Delight/Lizzy O’Shea gelding Yackandandah in a rate of 1:59.8.
Starting from gate two on the second line, Yackandandah sprinted sharply three-wide in the final circuit to join Starscape, which had taken care of the leader Living Diamond approaching the home turn, and dashed clear on turning with the well-supported Goodtime Alltime giving chase.
Under vigorous driving, Yackandandah rallied to score by 1.5 metres in advance of Goodtime Alltime a rate of 1:59.8, with Soldier Of Fortune (one/three) third.
