Four-year-old Kiwi bred McArdle/Solitaire gelding McNiven is making his way through the grades in impressive fashion, chalking up his seventh victory in 17 outings (two this season) by winning the World’s Best Hoof Oil Pace for C2 class over 1650 metres at Lord’s Raceway Bendigo on Thursday.
Raced by a large syndication from the Gippsland area including trainer Lee Evison, McNiven after drawing awkwardly was quickly away from the inside of the second row to settle midfield in the moving line, with Sketch Me one of two Wayne Potter trained runners leading from gate three before handing over to stablemate Koora Khan, which went forward from a one/one position to take over racing for the bell.
Suited by the slick early tempo, reinsman Greg Sugars had no hesitation in sending McNiven forward to park in the open for the final circuit before cruising to a 2.3m victory over Sketch Me along the sprint lane, with Eyes On The Sky (four-wide home turn) running home from near last to finish third. The mile rate 1:56.2.
Merrigum’s Brett Bunfield was successful with five-year-old Righteous Hanover/Dawn Bromac mare Bromac Del Mar, taking out the Good Guys Christmas Bonanza Pace Final for C1 class over 1650m.
With Chris Alford in the sulky, Bromac Del Mar was able to retain the inside running from the pole and was never headed, defeating the 13YO Albert Austin which trailed, with Realy Under Fire running on late for third. The mile rate 1:56.5.
Andy and Kate Gath's run of winners continued when former Kiwi Party Boy registered a big victory in the Christmas Parties @ Bendigo December 11 Pace for C0 class over 2180m.
A four-year-old gelded son of Bettor’s Delight and We Love To Party, which had been racing in the North Island, Party Boy from gate five on the second line settled well back in the field, before moving forward racing for the bell with the 100/1 chance Mistress Manhattan leading.
Racing right away over the concluding stages, Party Boy scored by 9.1m from Future Stride and Grinninalltheway in a rate of 1:58.6.
Riddell’s Adam Kelly landed the Bertocchi Christmas Hams Vicbred Pace for C1 class over 2150 metres with consistent four-year-old Modern Art/Discordia mare Fon Design in a rate of 2:00.8.
With regular reinsman Gavin Lang in the sulky, Fon Design after starting from the extreme draw was off and running shortly after the start to circle the field and park outside the heavily supported pacemaker Frankie Valley (gate seven).
Applying the pressure approaching the final bend, Fon Design was too strong over the concluding stages for Kentucky Lane (one/one) and Attentiontodetail which trailed the weakening leader after leading at one stage.
The all conquering Emma Stewart/Clayton Tonkin stable snared a double on the night with smart four-year-old mare Punch Line (Grinfromeartoear/Lifeline) leading throughout in the Santons Of Bendigo Pace for C3 & C4 class over 2150m and Bettor’s Delight/Cornsilk filly Delight Me doing similar in the George Hunt Pretty Marie 3YO Pace over 1650m, both driven by Gavin Lang.
The other winners on the program were Edge Hill for Ross Graham and Daryl Douglas in the George Hunt Toby Tyler Trotters Handicap and Myrniongfirecracker (Michelle Wight) in the Dunlop & Pitson Earthmoving Claiming Pace.
