Alford, Lang, Justice land doubles

27 April 2015 | Cody Winnell
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Lance Justice (pictured aboard Coastal) drove a winning double at Cranbourne today.

Lance Justice (pictured aboard Coastal) drove a winning double at Cranbourne today.

Three Victorian harness racing stalwarts shared the spoils at Cranbourne today.

Chris Alford, Gavin Lang and Lance Justice are synonymous with success and today the three horseman were at it again with winning doubles.

Alford kicked off proceedings with a win to his mare Pipe Me Home (Framework USA/ Our Shady Lady) breaking her maiden status with a 2.1-metre victory over Lazy Sunday in the Aldebaran Park Trot (1st Heat) over 2080 metres.

From the pole Pipe Me Home sat behind leader Lazy Sunday in the run before using the sprint lane to gain the spoils in a rate of 2:04.6 at odds of $3.90 at career start No.3.

The $2.80 favourite Jimbo Johnson blew his chances by galloping away at his Australian debut.

Whittlesea trainer Charlie Farrugia combined with driver Darren Pace to land victory in Race 2, the Decron Horse Care Pace, with five-year-old Attorney General/Gay And Bright gelding Major Minor leading all the way in the 2080-metre race for a 2.9m win over Arma Augustus in a rate of 2:02.7.

Favourite punters trying to lift themselves off the canvas after the first were poleaxed again, this time even-money shot Mikoney Courage breaking gear early and having to be pulled up.

Lang’s first winner was also the first leg of a winning double for Smythes Creek trainer Emma Stewart as four-year-old mare Our Petite Soeur (Grinfromeartoear USA/Aluring) scored a 1.6-metre triumph over Partnersinvancelot in the Ade Turf Equipment Pace over 2080m.

Sent out a prohibitive favourite at $1.10, Our Petite Soeur ran to the lead early and was never headed, rating 2:01.9.

Justice’s first leg of a winning double came in Race 4, the Trios After The Last Pace over 2080m with five-year-old JR Mint USA/Higher Calling mare Blacks A Beauty dashing home from barrier two.

The $2.80 shot held off $1.90 favourite Jambiani at the finish and rated 2:00.7, sprinting through her final 800m in 58.2secs after a 62.7secs first half.

Next up the hugely successful Stewart/Lang combo was victorious again in the Seelite Windows & Doors Pace over 2080m, ultra-talented four-year-old entire Major Secret notching his 14th win at start No.26.

The last-start Mark Gurry and Associates Cup winner at Mildura got the job done again, this time by 2.5m over Nowitzki in a mile rate of 1:58.9.

Major Secret (Art Major USA/Secret Life) has now won four of his past five starts and his prize money is zooming towards $300,000.

Justice delivered again in Race 6 with honest five-year-old Extreme Three CA/Sacajawea gelding Jean Baptiste overcoming a back-row draw for a 6.1m over 1609m.

Jean Baptiste defied a betting drift and paid $5.10 as he defeated Liculia and early leader and race favourite Lanista in a rate of 1:58.5.

Alford was back in the winners’ stall after Race 7, the Hyland Sportswear Pace, guiding outsider Mister Rufus (Young Rufus/Exotic Flash) to a 1.9m win over Phil Monty in a rate of 2:02.2.

Trained by Frank Cauchi at Parwan, eight-year-old Mister Rufus put the writing on the wall with a last-start third at Melton but still paid $31.20 today and fattened the quaddie dividend.

Romsey’s Leigh Miles finished the meeting victorious with three-year-old Sportswriter USA/Wemen Wendymae colt Wemen Sporty scoring a 1.1m win over Phantom Rockstar.

Wemen Sporty, driven by Greg Sugars, finished strongly and recorded a 2:02.1 mile rate.

The quaddie paid $2,543.80 and followers of Good Form might be shouting Blake Redden a drink after he landed it at goodform.trot.com.au for a full unit.

>> Get full results and video replays from all Cranbourne races

 

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