HEATHCOTE reinswoman Tayla French took the honours at the Swan Hill Trotting Club’s recent meeting, snaring a driving double with Muriel and Good Word That on Tuesday night.
French piloted home Muriel in the third race of the evening to get an early winner on the board, before ensuring Good Word That was first past the post an hour later in the Swan Hill Water Carriers fifth race.
Trained by French’s father Terry, Muriel led throughout from gate four and accounted for stablemate Pinnacle Hope, which used the sprint lane after trailing from the pole, to win in a mile rate of 2:02.9, with The Regulator a head away in third.
Good Word That then completed French’s driving double, with the Boris Devcic trained five-year-old gelding claiming victory in a mile rate of 1:56.4.
After sitting in the one/one from gate four, Good Word That was eased three wide on the final bend by French to win with a two-metre margin over pacemaker Desmond, with Cresco Threepeat, which was eased away from the pegs to race exposed from the bell, finishing third.
Terry and Tayla French weren’t the only successful father-daughter combination on the night, with Charlton’s John and Ellen Tormey claiming the fourth event with $1.80 favourite Bruised Ego.
With Ellen in the sulky, Bruised Ego was sent forward from gate four to park outside pole marker Beatboxer, with the eight-year-old gelding outstaying his rivals to greet the judge in front of Impetuoso along the sprint lane, with Beatboxer finishing third in a mile rate of 1:58.8.
The feature race of the night was taken out by former local owner Greg Fleming, with six-year-old mare Orbie claiming the What The Hill @ Woodlands Stud Pace over 2240 metres.
Trained by Julie Douglas at Strathfieldsaye and driven by the stable’s number one reinsman, Jack Laugher, Orbie was given the run of the race from the pole, sitting on the back of leader Hereshecomessassy throughout the race, before using the sprint lane to score in a mile rate of 1:59.6.
The Ashleigh Herbertson-trained Im Shadow Boxer also made use of the sprint lane to finish second, with Hereshecomessassy a head away in third.
The opening race of the night was won by the Gary Donaldson-trained and James Herbertson-driven Salski, ahead of Sallune and The Chook in a mile rate of 1:59.3.
The other results on the eight-race card went the way of the Paul Tonkin-trained, Tasmyn Potter-driven Sheza Bettor Gem (race 2), Sofala (race 6) which saluted for trainer/driver Donna Castles, and Tallaras Shadow (race 8), which was first past the post for trainer/driver Jason Ainsworth.
The next meeting for the Swan Hill Trotting Club will be on Friday, November 3, with the running of its main event of the season, the $25,000 3SH Swan Hill Pacing Cup.
