HARNESS racing returned to Swan Hill last Wednesday night, with spectators treated to eight races.
Bendigo driver Ellen Tormey, after a trio of wins at the February meet, recreated the triple feat.
The night commenced with a maiden win for the Naomi Kerr-trained Watching The Boys in the 2240m Kiel Tiling Battlers in the Bush Maiden Pace.
Driven by Ryan Backhouse and leading at the ball, the four-year-old gelding didn’t look back and finished ahead of Epic Ernie and My Great Eight.
Tormey picked up her first win of the night behind the favourite in the Swan Hill Lions BBQ Pace over 1750m, driving Charlton trainer Michael Gadsden’s Fragmental.
Fragmental led throughout the race, and was just ahead of Luke Watson’s Fortitudo at the bell before the eight-year-old gelding pulled away to win.
Tormey then claimed the Congratulations John King Pace over 1750m at a mile rate of 1:57:7.
Driving for father John Tormey behind seven-year-old gelding Shaq, Tormey got the win ahead of race favourite Chevron Flies.
Finding themselves three-wide through much of the race, Shaq worked forward and led on the outside to claim the win by 5.9m.
It was a tighter margin when Luke Dunne drove Joe Costa’s Bella Abby in the Swan Hill Stockfeeds Pace over 1750m.
The five-year-old mare led at the bell and finished ahead of Tormey-driven Chogi, and James Herbertson and Jeremy Quinlan’s Friends.
The Kent Harpley-trained Bulldog Khan took out the Peter Coady Memorial Pace over 1750m with a mile rate of 1:56:2.
Ashley Manton drove the five-year-old gelding to a photo-finish win against the hard-finishing Sofala, trained and driven by Donna Castles.
The success from the Julie Douglas and Jack Laugher pairing continued in race 6, as Triple Rock Saint claimed a big win.
Race favourite Triple Rock Saint finished 11.9m ahead of Andrew Vozlic’s Majestic Sue with a mile rate of 1:57:4.
Wayne Gretgrix trained Bandit Eyes won the Team Teal Pace over 2240m with favourite Bandit Eyes a neck ahead of Douglas’ Ozzie Joybell.
Tormey would wrap up the night with her third win of the meet, as four-year-old mare Izarra claimed the 2240m Laser Electrical Swan Hill Trot.
In a mile rate of 2:01:7, the Joanne Franklin trained mare would finish 7.7m ahead of Tiney, driven by Ben Xiriha and trained by Tony Xiriha.
Swan Hill’s next harness racing meet will be on Thursday, April 18.
