TRAINER/driver Conor Crook stole the show when racing resumed on Tuesday night at the Swan Hill trots.
The former Tasmanian secured two victories on an evening when keen racing and fast times were the order of the night.
Now based at Kialla in the Goulburn Valley, Crook scored a nice win with four-year-old mare All So Sassy in the Tasco Battlers In The Bush Maiden Pace over 1750m.
Showing plenty of speed from gate six to cross Artisticbutnaughty (gate two) running into the first turn, All So Sassy showed her rivals a clean pair of heels to easily account for Fullofit, which raced outside her after going forward from gate three in a mile rate of 1:55.7.
Crook didn’t have to wait long to bring up his double, with six-year-old gelding Occiano landing the Tasco Petroleum Swan Hill Pace over 1750m just an hour later.
Occiano was slow away from the pole and settled in the second half of the field, with More Arts Than Class making the early running.
Assuming control in the last lap, Occiano was too strong over the concluding stages, defeating Royal Cadence and Our Arts Christian in a mile rate of 1:56.9.
Shepparton trainer Steven Duffy enjoyed many wins back in the days of harness racing at Nyah.
He was successful once again with his three-year-old filly Spring Ville winning on debut in the 3YO Maiden Pace over 2240m.
With his son Ryan in the sulky, Spring Ville led throughout to register a cosy 8.5m victory in front of pole marker Over The Line, with Outback Queenie, who raced exposed after starting from gate five, battling on gamely for third.
It’s very rare for Red Cliffs trainer Reece Moore to not have a winner at Swan Hill and nine-year-old gelding White Star Village chalked up his 20th victory in 156 outings by taking out the Tasco Petroleum Mildura Pace over 2240m.
Driven by James Herbertson, White Star Village enjoyed a comfortable passage from gate two, after trailing Joe Costa’s Star Shine after the start – with pole line favourite Terroroan galloping wildly in the score up and was subsequently pulled out of the race.
Angling off Star Shine’s back upon straightening, White Star Village ran home best to beat home Costa’s Star Shine in a rate of 2:00.2, while Riverina Flash ran home along the sprint lane from last on the pegs for third.
Reece then matched the earlier feats of Crook, securing a training double when Amphijet, a five-year-old gelded son of Village Jolt and Bianca Jasper, saluted in the 2240m Tasco Service Stations Pace with Jack Laugher in the sulky.
Lobbing one/one from outside the front line, with pole marker Magic Matteo leading, Amphijet was eased three wide in the final circuit and sprinted sharply to lead on the home turn and defeat the heavily supported Maxy Wants To Play in a mile rate of 1:58.5.
The final two races of the evening went the way Tiger Band Wagon, with James Herbertson in the sulky securing a driving double for the night for his father Ashleigh Herbertson – while the final event on the card went the way of the Denis McIntyre trained, Michael Bellman driven Captain Pins in a mile rate of 1:57.9.
