Four-year-old Blissful Hall/Suzy Albert mare Blitsuzy chalked up her ninth victory in 32 outings (four this season) when successful in the Trackside Bingo Every Friday Pace for C5 & C6 class over 2180 metres at Kilmore on Tuesday.
Trained at Hopetoun Park by Ross Sugars, Blitzsuzy, driven by son Greg, enjoyed a cosy trip three back in the running line from gate four with the favourite Crazy Dave leading from the pole.
Not happy with the tempo, Sugars sent Blitzsuzy forward racing for the bell to park in the open for the final circuit, outstaying her rivals to score by two metres over Daylight Dan (three back the markers) and a disappointing Crazy Dave in a mile rate of 2:00.6.
There was plenty of elation after the running of the Jet Roofing Pace for C1 class over 1690 metres at Kilmore, with four-year-old Four Starzzz Shark/Panas gelding Tabanan crossing the wire in first place.
Bred and raced by Christine and David Pettman, Tabanan, trained and driven by Bolinda’s Chris Alford, led throughout from gate three, accounting for Blacks A Beauty, which raced outside him all of the way, and Brother Rabbit (three back the markers) in a mile rate of 1:57.7.
Astute Bolinda mentor Brent Lilley was successful with smart Art Major/Showtime Franco filly Rebel Diamond in the Kelly Sports Pace for C0 class over 1690 metres at his local track.
Bred and raced by the MacLean Family Group managed by Liz MacLean daughter of renowned veterinary surgeon Alistair, Rebel Diamond, driven by Anthony Butt, was sent forward from the extreme draw to assume control in the back straight on the first occasion before toying with her rivals to register a 13.3-metre margin in 1:59.2 over Summer Of Courage, which raced in the open, and Highly Persuavive (three-wide last lap).
Shepparton’s David Moran landed the Northern Fascia Claiming Pace over 2180 metres with Kiwi bred former Queenslander Yeah Right in a mile rate of 1:58.2.
Leading out from gate three, Yeah Right, a seven-year-old gelded son of Whatagain and Belles N Roses, was eased to take a trail on the speedy Catch Your Breath after travelling a couple of hundred metres receiving the run of the race.
Coming away from the markers on turning, Yeah Right ran home strongly to gain the day from Eliminator, which followed him all of the way, with Catch Your Breath weakening to finish third. The mile rate 1:58.2.
Bendigo (Maiden Gully) trainer Paul Campbell’s Dream Vacation/Queens Rhapsody five-year-old mare Queens Rhapsody was a tough winner of the Morning Melodies @ Trackside Trotters Mobile for T1 & T2 class over 2180 metres at Kilmore.
Taking a mares concession, Queens Vacation, driven on this occasion by Gavin Lang, settled in the “sweet-seat” from outside the front row, but again wouldn’t settle, pulling very hard with Katmandonny leading from gate five.
Sent forward three-wide racing for the bell, Queens Rhapsody had little luck as Zoomas Legend outside the pacemaker kept her wide.
Given full rein to lead on the final bend, Queens Rhapsody appeared to be a sitting target for the hot favourite Left Right Andcentre, which had the drop on her, however the former found plenty in the run to the wire, scoring by 6.3 metres in a slick 2:00.8 for that class. Sun Of Anarchy finished third after switching to the markers in the last lap and using the sprint lane on turning.
Rockbank’s Angela McDonough snared the Hanson Cleaning Pace for C0 class over 2180 metres with four-year-old Santanna Blue Chip/Crystal Wrist gelding My Middle Boy, paying Supertab odds of $27.90.
Driven by Rod Petroff, My Middle Boy first up since last October set off three-wide solo from near last in the final circuit, sustaining a long run to blouse the almost unbackable favourite Sheza Wildcard which led by 1.3 metres, with Springfield Cruise third after trailing the leader. The mile rate 2:01.7.
Avenel trainer Wayne Potter combined with Nathan Jack to land the Book Kilmore Turf Club 22 February 3YO Pace over 2180 metres with new stable addition Glenferrie Boss.
Raced by well-known former Kilmore resident Jack Knight, Glenferrie Boss, a colt by New Zealand Cup winner Changeover from Kiwi Rose, possied three back along the markers from gate three, easing to race in the open at the bell.
Despite being first up since October, Glenferrie Boss was far too strong at the finish for Ourboyjay (one/one at bell) and Looks Like Heaven (one/two) in a mile rate of 2:01.7.
Melton trainer Ken Tippet and future son-in-law Josh Smyth caused a major upset in the Phoenix Designs Concession Drivers Pace for C1 class over 2180 metres when seven-year-old gelding Steely Blue scored at Supertab odds of $68.50.
Given an easy time from gate two on the second line just off the speed three back in the moving line, Steely Blue was eased three wide in the final circuit to give chase to the pacemaker Jackpot Jim which had taken over at the bell.
Dashing to the front on turning, Steely Blue (Western Terror/Minnie The Moocher) defied all challengers in the straight to register a 2.4 metre margin over Joelissa (one/one) to give the Melton area the quinella. Lust (four back the markers) ran on late when extricated into the clear to finish third. The mile rate 2:00.7.
