IT was a case of double vision at the Swan Hill Trots on Wednesday night, when James Herbertson and Jackie Barker secured driving doubles, and trainers Gary Living and Julie Douglas both headed home with dual training victories.
The second of Douglas’ victories was a popular one with the locals, as the Noel Watson-owned Rockin Saint saluted in the final event on the 10-race card, the Tasco Bulk Fuel 3YO Maiden Pace.
Starting from the pole, Rockin Saint led all the way to record a narrow but soft victory by half a neck ahead of Rumpelstiltskin, which trailed using the sprint lane, with Little Showgirl finishing third, albeit 25 metres away, in a mile rate of 1:58.4.
Douglas won in the sixth race on the card with seven-year-old gelding Ozzie Battler, driven by Abby Sanderson, led all of the way from gate four to win the 1750m Tasco High Octane Pace.
Ozzie Battler proved too strong in the run, defeating the Andrew Vozlic-trained Only Once Bitten and stablemate Triple Rock Saint in a mile rate of 1:55.3.
It was a homecoming of sorts for former Mittyack trainer Trevor Patching, who was a regular winner at the Nyah Trotting Club, teaming up with Barker for her second win of the night aboard six-year-old gelding Soar to win the Graeme Hayes Real Estate Challenge Pace second heat.
It was the fourth win of Soar’s career under the guidance of Patching, who these days is based in Marong.
Barker gave Soar a cosy passage from gate two after trailing pacemaker and eventual runner-up Starzinhereyes (gate five) before easing off the inside to blister the field by 13 metres in a mile rate of 1:59.9, with Redbank Molly finishing third from midfield a further six metres away.
Barker’s first victory of the evening came half an hour prior when she piloted the Living-trained A Rocknroll Jet first past the post to win the seventh event on the card.
After leading virtually throughout from gate five, A Rocknroll Jet sprinted away upon turning for home to record an impressive win in a mile rate of 1:58.4 over the Joe Costa-trained Bettor Star, with Majestic Sue a metre back third after trailing and easing off the inside upon turning into the home straight.
Also among the winners was the Vozlic-trained and Michael Bellman-driven Social Writer, who took the win in the opening event of the night, while father-and-daughter team Craig and Abbey Turnball combined to win the third race of the evening with Otis Rising.
Herbertson was also among the big winners for the night, with wins aboard Hungry Hogarth (race two) for Michael Gadsden and Cornelia (race four) for Ross Conway.
Living and Kerryn Manning combined to win the fifth event on the card with Stylish Gem, while Moyreisk trainer-driver Ashley Ainsworth went home happy after winning the ninth race aboard five-year-old mare Faith Full.
The Swan Hill Trotting Club will race again on Wednesday, June 19.
