Josh and David Aiken.
David Aiken has long been one of the state’s leading trainers since locating to Victoria over a decade ago and following a double at Tabcorp Park Melton last Saturday, repeated the dose at Bendigo on Tuesday when in-form mare Vics Cheval scored in the Bendigo Tafe Monte and smart juvenile Hadrians Phoenix the Aldebaran Park 3-Y-0 Trotters Handicap over 2150 metres.
Vics Cheval a five year old daughter of Yankee Boy and Vics Lady raced by David, with overseas rider Kima Frenning in the sadlle, raced in the open from outside the front row for the entire journey, before toying with her rivals to register a 23.1 metre victory over Illawong Moonshine which followed her for the final circuit, with Hakuna Sunset a further 3.7 metres away in third place after trailing the weakening leader Bill Peperell. The mile rate 1-57.4.
An interesting aspect to the race was that cross country rider Paul Hamblin made the trip to Bendigo to ride rank outsider Shea Keystone in the race after competing in the first two highweight races at the all new Pakenham complex during the afternoon.
Eilean Donon/Dodo Rocket gelding Hadrians Phoenix driven by Gavin Lang was given plenty of time to find his feet from barrier two, settling three back along the markers, before being sent forward to take over mid-race from Sugar Free (barrier six).
Nursed to the wire, Hadrians Phoenix had 1.1 metres to spare on the wire over Sugar Free and the 10 metre backmarker Aldebaran Midnite which sprinted swiftly to join the winner on the home turn. The mile rate 2-06.
Sunbury trainer/driver Ahmed Taiba has picked up a handy performer in Colonel Joy who snared the Alabar Breeders Crown 3-Y-0 Pace over 1650 metres in a rate of 1-58.4 when first up since winning at Kilmore in April last year.
A gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere and Lady Joy who is half brother to quality racehorses Captain Joy (Mach Three) 26 wins, Master Joy (Art Major) 17 wins, Lightning Joy ( Western Terror) 12 wins, plus Another Joy (Presidential Ball) 9 wins. Colonel Joy is also a full brother to Admiral Joy (5 wins).
Settling mid-field in the moving line from gate two on the second row, Colonel Joy was off and running to park outside the pacemaker Aurelius at the bell and after applying pressure on turning, strode clear over the concluding stages to score by 2.3 metres from Aurelius and Secret Agenda which trailed the front runner.
Kyabram trainer Mark Watson usually comes up with a handy horse each season and landed the Bendigo Advertiser 2-Y-0 Pace over 2150 metres with Major In Art/Miss Athens colt Brallos Pass.
Driven by Chris Alford, Brallos Pass coming off an eye catching second to Mar Nien at Shepparton a week earlier possied one/one from gate two on the second line, with the heavily backed Thats How Weroll from the Belinda McCarthy camp working to the front for Greg Sugars from gate five.
Sent forward three wide in the last lap, Brallos Pass sprinted brilliantly to take a slender lead on the final bend and score by 9 metres in 1-59.6 over the pacemaker, with first starter Blazedale (three back the markers) 13.4 metres away in third place.
Melton based Maree and John Caldow have Kiwi bred Art Major/Tootsie filly Nicky Delight going great guns at present and was successful in taking the Vantage Fuels Pace for C0 class over 2150 metres.
Sent forward from gate four to assume control hitting the back straight on the first occasion, Nicky Maguire well rated was never headed, greeting the judge by 14.2 metres in 1-59 from Classic Shark which trailed and Smooth Mikaela who was always handy.
Eight year old Pass The Mustard/Ladybird Joy gelding Mister Pickles registered his first victory since May 2012 when successful in the Petstock Pace for C1 class over 2150 metres.
Backed for bundles when narrowly beaten by Lights And Music at Swan Hill on May 14 when first up since December, Mister Pickles trained at Junortoun by Danny O’Bree and driven by stable reinsman Scott Dyer went forward from outside the front row to take over within a lap, before running his rivals ragged, scoring by 14.4 metres in a rate of 1-59 over a death-seating Art Of Locksley and Baranduda off a three wide trail last lap on the back of Our Bold Lustre.
Lance Justice was in the winners circle following the victory of speedy Aces N Sevens/Smooth De Babe four year old entire Four Smart Aces in the Schweppes Pace for C3 & C4 class over 1650 metres.
Driven with aggression from gate five to cross Admiral Joy inside him, Four Smart Aces was too slick over the short trip for Admiral Joy which tried hard in the straight, going down by 1.4 metres in a brilliant 1-54.3. Polemarker Blue Seelster finished third after trailing the pair.
Andy and Kate Gath gained some spending money for a trip to the Harness Jewels in Ashburton over the weekend, when three year old Always A Virgin/Shove Off gelding Always Arjay led throughout from the pole to land the Great Ocean Road Real Estate Pace for C2 class over 2150 metres.
Bowling along at his leisure, Always Arjay defied all challengers to score by a head from Arden Castle which trailed, using the sprint lane to just fail in a rate of 1-59.1, with Our Petite Soeur third after racing in the open from the bell.
