By Len Baker
Long time Barham owner and trainer Ruth Arthur was a popular winner at last Thursday evening’s Swan Hill Trotting Club meeting, when 5Y0 mare Wild Imagination greeted the judge in the 1750m Investing.com Economic Calendar Pace.
Driven by James Herbertson, Wild Imagination started from gate two and at her fifty eighth start, ran home strongly from three back in the moving line, to join leaders Best Back Bruce and Dallas Patrick on the final bend. From there, Wild Imagination raced clear to record a 4.8m win over Clifton Babe, which followed her forward on the home turn, with You Ninety Two using the sprint lane to finish third in a mile rate of 1:56.5.
Irymple trainer Boris Devcic landed the 1750 metre Investing.com Maiden Pace with recent stable addition Beau Steele – a 4Y0 gelded son of He’s Watching and Beau Ciel.
Driven by Lance Justice, Beau Steele, starting from the extreme outside draw, settled three back in the moving line as Keayang Remi led from gate six.
Easing three wide on the last lap, Beau Steele finished full of running to register a 2.1m victory over Split Ear, who ran along the sprint lane in a 2:02.8 mile rate.
Julie Douglas continued her sensational season with filly Roll With Ron saluting in the Investing.com News 2Y0 Maiden Pace over 1750m.
With Jordan Leedham in the sulky, Roll With Ron led throughout from the second gate and was always in control, dashing away upon turning for home to easily account for first starter Abettawaytodoit in a mile rate of 1:57.2.
Sunstar, after going forward from four back to be outside the winner for the last lap, was a head away third.Douglas soon made it a double for the evening when filly Rosie Rocks led all of the way in the 1750m Investing.com Indices 3Y0 Maiden Pace.
Travelling beautifully, Rosie Rocks raced clear upon turning for home to record a comfortable victory over eye catching first starters Don’t Waste Time and Terror Of A Saint – a stablemate of the winner who finished third.Great Western trainer Daryl Crane combined with Denbeigh Wade aboard promising colt Defensive Guy to blitz his older rivals in the Investing.com Forex Trotters Handicap, which was ran over 2240m.
Stepping cleanly away from barrier three to lead, Defensive Guy coasted all the way to register a 7.4m win over Milly An Eyre, who settled three back on the markers, with the race run in a mile rate of 2:08.3. In what was an eye-catching run, Barhoon flashed home late, from near last, to finish third even after being checked in the last lap.
Heavily supported 7Y0 Emjays Black Chip, trained by Tasmanian Michael Laugher and driven by son Jack, was a tough victor of the fifth race on the card after racing uncovered for the last half of the journey to eventually get home in front of Hand Writer, in a mile rate of 2:02.2.
The other two races for the evening were taken out by the Toby Ainsworth trained Americal Alli, who recorded a strong win over the Joe Costa trained Bettor Star – while Vanquish Stride, who started a strong $1.22 favourite, eventually outlasted his rivals to win the final race of the meet, the Investing.com Commodities Pace.
The next meeting for the Swan Hill Trotting Club will be on Monday, December 13th.
