ID15 favourite sizzles in Smoken Up Sprint

14 November 2015 | Cody Winnell
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Lennytheshark and Chris Alford come away to win the Smoken Up Sprint at Tabcorp Park.

Lennytheshark and Chris Alford come away to win the Smoken Up Sprint at Tabcorp Park.

Word out of the tank has been consistent since the very earliest part of Lennytheshark’s Inter Dominion preparation.

“I wouldn’t swap him for any other runner” is the message trainer David Aiken has used several times right through the prep, and tonight’s obliteration of a star-studded Olympus Feeds Smoken Up Sprint field has Lennytheshark a clear favourite for the Perth Inter Dominion starting in a fortnight.

Lennytheshark’s win took a huge confidence chunk out of several ID15 contenders, the son of Four Starzzz Shark/Botswana exploding to beat pacemaker Keayang Cullen by 10.6 metres in a 1:52.8 mile rate at Tabcorp Park Melton.

About sixth 100m before the quarter pole, Lennytheshark eased wide and let rip with surging run around the field. Into the straight he booted clear, the final quarter clocked in 27 seconds – Lennytheshark making up 10m on top of that.

Reinsman Chris Alford delivered a brilliant drive, steering Lennytheshark away from the markers early after starting inside the second row. Lennytheshark ended up one out and two back in the run.

Early in the race Keayang Cullen pressed hard to find the top for Jason Lee, working to the pegs after 400m, crossing early leader Avonnova.

Race favourite Our Hi Jinx came away from the markers to avoid being buried alive, while Easy On The Eye punched the breeze.

Keayang Cullen’s lead time was quick – 6.8 – and his first quarter about as slick as they come (27.2secs).

The Terang pacer secured a much-needed breather through the second stanza (31.4) before the pace hastened again down the back.

Avonnova, who ended up with the run of the race on the leader’s back for Shane Graham, chased hard in the home straight but couldn’t reel in a game Keayang Cullen, which kept on fighting to run second.

Five Star Anvil wasn’t far off in fourth, while Keayang Steamer found the line fairly well for fifth.

Meanwhile, mare Maori Time led throughout to win the Aldebaran Park Bill Collins Trotters Sprint over 1720m.

Driven by Anthony Butt for Brent Lilley, the six-year-old daughter of Pegasus Spur/Sundonna cruised to the lead from gate two and was never threatened, coasting home in a cool 1:55.0 to beat Sydneysider On Thunder Road by 2m with Kyvalley Blur in third.

Trainer Courtney Slater opened proceedings with victory in the DNR Logistics Vicbred Pace, driver Glen Craven steering Goodtime Rusty (Artesian/Rustlin A Kiss) home by a short half-head over Desiring Kate, with Hollys Miss Molly third in 1:56.5 over 2240m.

Lilley combined with Gavin Lang in Race 2 with Sun Of Anarchy prevailing in the Rayner Real Estate Trot over 2240m defeating Barefoot Sally and Lightning Calder in 1:59.8.

Lightning Calder wasn’t on his best behaviour early and lost considerable ground, so he’s one for your black book.

Trainer Paul Rowse made up for his narrow defeat in Race 1 in the third race with Savesomtimetodream victorious for driver Greg Sugars.

The eight-year-old by Village Jasper out of Cultured Lombo worked his way around to the lead after about 600m scouting deep.

Lets Elope emerged very late to grab second ahead of a brave Daylight Dan in 1:58.3.

The second leg of a winning double for Gavin Lang came via roughie Guggenhein in Race 4, the Pridmore Electrics Pace Final over 2240m.

Driven forward to find the chair Guggenheim always travelled well before skipping to the lead in the home straight and holding off Milady Denver (leader’s back) and Ark (one-one) in a rate of 1:57.8.

Guggenheim is trained by Amanda McHenry at Melton.

Andy and Kate Gath enjoyed success in the Caduceus Club Living Legend Pace with impressive six-year-old Bettors Delight/Regret gelding Mister Mundaka leading from gate seven and fending off Ive Gottalife and Desdon Murruffy at the finish over 1720m.

Mister Mundaka found plenty when Kate Gath asked him for maximum effort, rating 1:54.1 to win by almost 2m.

John Justice said SA Cup plans were well on track for handy six-year-old Hotasel (Elsu/Hotgossip), who beat Manuka Man and Franco Ledger in second and third in the Congratulations Kerryn and Arden Rooney Free-for-All over 1720m in a rate of 1:54.7.

Hot favourite Mach Alert wilted after leading to run fourth.

Emma Stewart and Nathan Jack combined with five-year-old Art Major/Sabrina Bromac mare Tuscan Breeze to win the Victorian Harness Racing Media Association Pace over 1720m.

Driven in the one-one by Jack, Tuscan Breeze eased three-wide into the home straight and hit the line best to stave off a fast-finishing Kamwood Dawn, with long odds-on favourite Morton Plains battling on for third.

Trainer Joanne Franklin, who is based at Moonlight Flats, teamed with Ararat reinsman Michael Bellman for victory in the Sheron Park Trot Final (Race 10) with Royal Dream.

The five-year-old by Monarchy out of Dreamlands Nancy drew well clear at the finish to defeat stablemates Tella Tall Tale and Spud, who made up plenty of ground, in a rate of 2:02.5.

Bellman brought up a career milestone during the week with Witzend’s win on Tuesday at Stawell the driver’s 1000th success in the sulky.

Rounding out a cracking night of trots action was exciting four-year-old Cruz Bromac, who slayed his rivals in the Eynesbury Homestead and Golf Pace Final over 2240m.

Driven by Greg Sugars, the son of Falcon Seelster/Crown Defender probably didn’t leave third gear, cruising home in 1:56.8 by 23.8m over runner-up Mystical Tilly with Maken Art Magic third in the 2240m race.

Based on the strength of tonight’s win the Dean Braun-trained pacer has much bigger wins in store.

 

-ENDS-

Media enquiries:

CODY WINNELL
COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA MANAGER

HARNESS RACING VICTORIA
PO BOX 184, MOONEE PONDS, VIC 3039
400 EPSOM ROAD, FLEMINGTON, VIC 3031
t: 03 8378 0288 | f: 03 9214 0699 | e: cwinnell@hrv.org.au
www.hrv.org.au

 

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