Local Woorinen trainer Joe Costa’s professional five year old Dream Away/Royal Beach Girl gelding Beachstar chalked up his 6th victory on the Swan Hill circuit and 10th overall, when victorious in the Jennings Northern Shoe Stores Pace for C5 or better class over 2240 metres at the Nyah HRC meeting on Wednesday.
Raced by the Costa family, Beachstar with regular reinsman Michael Bellman in the sulky was quickly away from a solo second line draw to follow both the Boort Cup winner Gollahman and Life Of Ted (a stablemate of the winner) in the moving line, with Shepparton speedster Diamond Ace leading from gate two.
Moving three wide approaching the home turn, Beachstar ran to the wire strongly to defeat the in-form Mildura hope Givsirabone along the sprint lane after trailing the pacemaker, with Gangster Boy (four back the markers) third. The mile rate 1-58.3.
The Costa luck was running high as smart Million Dollar Cam/What About Now gelding Riley James greeted the judge in the Styling Services 3-Y-0 Pace over 1750 metres.
Again with Mick Bellman holding the reins, Riley James (gate two on the second row) settled mid-field in the moving line, with the heavily supported Our Star Dust coming from the extreme draw to cross the leader Smooth Mikaela (gate two) at the bell.
Sent forward three wide in the last lap to join Our Star Dust on the final bend, the pair drew away to fight out the finish, with Riley James asserting his authority to register a 3.5 metre victory in 1-59.6. One Golden Day (four back the markers) used the sprint lane to finish in third place.
Shrewd Kialla (Shepparton) trainer Dave Farrar produced a nice juvenile by the name of A Shade Bettor to land The Northern Shoe Store Mildura 2-Y-0 Pace over 1750 metres on debut.
Driven by Mark Pitt, A Shade Bettor was eased from gate four at the start to possie five back along the markers, with Smooth Felicity leading from gate three before surrendering to Maddys Miracle (gate six) shortly after the start.
Angling to be one/one racing for the bell after Comicopera (four back the markers) eased away from the markers, A Shade Bettor followed Comicopera which dashed clear approaching the final bend into the straight, before running home stylishly to record a 1.9 metre victory in 2-00.9 over Dallas Nikolay from last, with Comicopera close up in third place.
Strathfieldsaye trainer/driver Glenn Douglas has enjoyed plenty of success at both Nyah and Swan Hill and landed The Northern Shoe Store Swan Hill Pace for C0 class over 2240 metres with 4-Y-0 Grinfromeartoear/Coverde gelding Heathbern Star.
Having his first outing since August last year, Heathbern Star was driven with plenty of aggression from gate three on the second line to go forward and arrest the lead away from Clontarf Guy.
Travelling kindly, Heathbern Star showed no signs of stopping to register a 8 metre victory in advance of Tarleton Joe (three back the markers) and Tooram Lad which raced in the open. The mile rate 2-00.2.
Astute Rochester owner/trainer/breeder Mark Thompson also has a tremendous record at both Nyah and Swan Hill and was successful with 5-Y-0 Union Guy/Orta Be Ruthless gelding Ortabe Good in the Jennings Family Pace for C1 class over the novelty distance of 1200 metres, giving Mark Pitt a driving double.
Leading from the pole, Ortabe Good which has only recently returned to the Thompson stable, toyed with his rivals to easily account for Our Bedrock which trailed and Can But Dream. The mile rate was unavailable at the time of writing.
Stawell trainer Owen Martin was victorious with 5-Y-0 Armbro Operative/Maori Emm Emm Dee gelding Bee Arr Dee in the Evie & Harry Jennings Trotters Handicap for T0 or better class over 2240 metres, returning a pedestrian mile rate of 2-07.5.
With Nathan Jack in the sulky, Bee Arr Dee making his 15th appearance at the races settled three back the markers from barrier five, before moving to park in the open at the bell.
In a slugging finish, Bee Arr Dee prevailed by a half neck over Cudgee Boy along the sprint lane from three back the markers at the bell, with the pacemaker Majestic Flash a neck away in third place.
The odds-on favourite The Majestic (30 metres) was tailed off after making an error running into the first turn.
Elmore father and son – Keith & Jake Cotchin snared the Terry Jennings Pace for C1 class over 2240 metres with consistent 4-Y-0 Mach Three/Just Say Go gelding Just Knew.
Taking a concession, Just Knew led all of the way from the pole to score in a breeze by 10 metres from One Knight Stand (four wide home turn from near last) and Ellehigh (one/two) in a mile rate of 1-58.6.
The Northern Shoes Celebrating 85 Years Pace for C2 & C3 class over 2240 metres went the way of in-form ex-Kiwi 5-Y-0 Sutter Hanover/Im A Star gelding Fernco Bobby G for Strathfieldsaye trainer Julie Douglas with husband Glenn in the sulky.
Spending most of the race from gate four on the second line with only Ona Rocky Beach behind him, Fernco Bobby G commenced a forward move in the last lap, being accommodated by Dobop (one/two) coming out ahead of him.
Easing four wide on the home turn, Fernco Bobby G sprinted brilliantly on straightening to have the race in his keeping in the twinkle of an eye, scoring by 7.1 metres untouched from Dobop and Kimcandash along the sprint lane off the back of the front runner. The mile rate 2-00.2.
The next Nyah meeting will be Thursday May 14.