By Len Baker
THE combination of Julie Douglas and Ellen Tormey secured a trainer-driver double at Swan Hill on Sunday night, including the feature race on the program.
Staying mare Pray Tell, a 4YO daughter of Western Terror and Virtuosy claimed the sixth event on the card, the Alabar Mares Sprint Championship (heat 8) over 1750m for Douglas and Tormey. Pray Tell had little trouble arresting the lead away from the noted sit and sprint star Muckinbar Diva, who managed to cross surprise leader Delightful Mia after the start. After a cosy trip, Pray Tell defied all challengers, accounting for Muckinbar Diva along the sprint lane, while Junee visitor Rockita gained inside runs from the rear to finish third in a mile rate of 1:56.2.
The win by Pray Tell gave Douglas and Tormey their second win of the night after Ozzie Joy led all of the way from gate four in the fourth race on the card, the Coinspot Cardano Pace over 2240m. Although stablemate Shaken Sands drew close after trailing when easing off the back of the leader in the shadows of the post, Ozzie Joy held on to win by half a head in a mile rate of 1:59.7 – with Timely Sovereign (one/two at the bell) ran home to finish third.
Great Western trainer-driver Kerryn Manning celebrated her birthday in style by winning the Coinspot Dogecoin Pace over 2240m with handy 6Y0 gelding The Kingsman. Trained by Kerryn, The Kingsman (gate four) raced in the open outside of Made To Rock (gate two), before gaining cover for the last lap after Rocking Bugatti was sent forward from the rear by Alex Ashwood to race exposed. Given a slight breather, The Kingsman angled three wide approaching the home turn and finished best to prevail by 4.5 meters over Rocking Bugatti, with Amillion Promises (gate six) third in a mile rate of 1:57.5 after following the winner throughout.
Earlier in the night, Charlton-based duo Mark Boyle (part-owner/trainer) and driver Ashleigh Markham, a former Western Australian, were successful with 6Y0 gelding Gotonebettor taking out the 2240m Coinspot Ethereum Pace, returning in a mile rate of 2:03.8. Beginning brilliantly from gate six, Gotonebettor led throughout, getting to the line by a half neck from Bentleigh (three wide last lap from the tail). Polemarker Rockybomba – who sat behind the leader before pulling into the death seat on the last lap, was third 2.2 meters away.
The other races on the night were claimed by Cash Boost, who won the opening race of the night for father-daughter combination Craig and Abbey Turnball, while The Lost Storm won the third event on the card for trainer Emma Stewart and driver Mark Pitt. The final race of the night was won by the Kate Hargreaves trained and Shannon O’Sullivan driven Gauci, who won comfortably from Heavens Hurricane and Strawberry Delight.
The next meeting for the Swan Hill Trotting Club will be held on Sunday, August 14.
