By Len Baker
Swan Hill hosted the latest VHRC Members Bonus night on Tuesday evening, with a terrific nine race card featuring close finishes in many races.
The feature event was the fifth race of the night – the $10,000 VHRC Bonuses Pace over 2240m, which was taken out by the Emma Stewart trained Runaway Celebrity. Driven by Mark Pitt, Runaway Celebrity enjoyed a cosy passage from inside the second line, trailing the leader Don’t Need An Excuse for a lap and a half until the sprint lane came into play. Making use of the inside running, Runaway Celebrity unleashed down the home straight to score by half a neck over Chrissy Chic, with Treacherous Rock a neck away in third back after racing uncovered from gate four in a mile rate of 1:59.6.
Legendary reinswoman Kerryn Manning steered home 4YO mare Muckinbar Diva to victory 30 minutes later in the APG – Bringing The Sales & Races To The Owners Pace over 1750m. Trained at Haven just outside Horsham by Justin Lane, Muckinbar Diva enjoyed a sweet passage from gate three, trailing the leader Isitwrongtobexcited. After enjoying the run of the race, Muckinbar Diva used the sprint lane to perfection to register a half neck margin over Clem McArdle off a three wide double trail from the rear approaching the home turn. Shaq ran home late for third some two metres further back, with Muckinbar Diva getting home in a mile rate of 1:55.1.
The individual performance of the night however belonged to Strathfieldsaye trainer Julie Douglas and her stable driver Jack Laugher, who combined to claim a double trainer-driver double in both the second and seventh races on the card.
Their evening got off to a good start when favorite Eric The Kicker saluted after being restrained from the extreme outside draw to the back of the field at the start. From there, Eric The Kicker rounded the final bend six wide before motoring home to prevail by a neck from pole marker Hanover Jack, who finished strongly along the sprint lane after trailing Strawberry Delight, who finished a half head away in third.
Douglas and Laugher then completed a successful night five races later when Van Niekerk claimed the seventh race ahead of Rocks Arnt Pets and Little Suzie. Racing without cover early, Van Niekerk eventually settled in the one-one on the back of Roman Arnie, before moving third wide for the final lap and scoring a half head victory over Rocks Arnt Pets in a mile rate of 2:01.4
The remaining races were won by the Ros Rolfe trained and driven Dallas Miki (race one), $26 outsider Aerodyne Guy (race three), the Aaron Dunn trained and driven Little Louie (race four), 5YO bay gelding Keayang Alex (race eight) and Damien Wilson trained and driven Kalarney Heidi (race nine). The next meeting of the Swan Hill Trotting Club is scheduled for Sunday, July 10.
