By Len Baker
AN entertaining eight event card of harness racing was held at Swan Hill on Monday December 13, with mixed results during the evening.
Visiting Melton reinsman John Caldow, who drove many winners at Nyah prior to the Swan Hill relocation, landed a double on the program, piloting Vapar Fortune for Ballarat’s Julian Jobe in the Bithub Crypto Exchange 3Y0 Maiden Pace over 2240 metres, and Birthday Suit for Bolinda trainer Brent Lilley in the 2240 metre Bithub Etheruem Trotters Handicap.
Vapar Fortune ($34) a gelded son of Used To Me and Pocket Of Fortune began fast from gate three to lead, and after dictating terms, fought on bravely to score by 1.5 metres from another roughie, Wemen Bella, which trailed from the pole.
Six-year-old Muscle Hill-Starcus gelding Birthday Suit ($10) coming from 20 metres (with no front runner) enjoyed a cosy passage on the back of the pacemaker Mazikeen from the pole and was always travelling kindly.
Using the sprint lane, as competitor Wisp Of Smoke raced exposed in the final circuit, Birthday Suit registered a metre decision in a rate of 2-05.1 over Mazikeen, with Our Quick Cash third at 3.3 metres away.
Marong trainer Trevor Patching, who also had great success in the Nyah days, was successful with four-year-old Mach Three-Classic Bliss mare Ulani ($10) in the 1750 metre Alabar Vicbred Platinum Maiden Pace. With ‘Hall Of Famer’ Kerryn Manning in the sulky, Ulani raced by members of the Patching family, before running home, winning by a half neck over Tex Goes Bang, with Murdoch (one/one) third at 1.8 metres back. The mile rate 1-59.5.
The Bithub Ripple Pace over 2240 metres was a piece of cake for Kiwi bred 4Y0 Net Ten Eom-Rosie Lindenny gelding Van Neikerk ($1.70) trained at Strathfieldsaye by Glenn Douglas for staunch stable owner Rob Martin. Driven by Jack Laugher,Van Niekerk gave his rivals the slip on turning to record an easy 7.1 metre margin over Ferocious Son, with Hand Writer, a stablemate of the winner, third at 2.3 metres away after racing exposed. The mile rate 2-00.1.
Three year old A Rocknroll Dance-Someone To Love gelding Curly James ($3.70) first up since August, was a tough victor of the 2200 metre Bithub Litecoin Pace for Kilmore trainer Julie Mifsud and Goulburn Valley based reinsman Cody Crossland. Finishing strongly, Curly James scored by 3.5 metres in advance of Killara Juggernaut.
Hot favourite Hi Manameisjeff ($1.50), trained at Lemnos by Russell Jack and driven by Leigh Sutton, led throughout in the Bithub Cardano Pace over 2240 metres in a mile rate of 2-01.1.
Favourite punters would have gone home on a happy note following the victory of five-year-old gelding Rockntommy Rulz ($1.85) in the 1750 metre Bithub Stellar Pace. Trained and driven by Bendigo’s Alex (Alby) Ashwood, Rockntommy Rulz began brilliantly from gate four to lead and always appeared to be travelling in second gear.
Challenged strongly by stablemate Talent Agent (Tayla French) on turning, which had gone forward to race exposed from gate three on the second line, Rockntommy pulled out plenty to reach the wire by 4.2 metres from Talent Agent, in the fastest rate of the night 1-57.9.
Local hope Bettor Star (one/one) was third at 4.3 metres away.
Swan Hill trots race again Tuesday January 11.
