A MOST interesting, competitive and thrilling eight race card of harness racing was held at Swan Hill on Wednesday night, with Kialla trainer/driver Cameron Maggs walking away the big winner.
Maggs was the only dual winner for the night, claiming victory as both trainer and driver of Wind Sock in the fifth event of the night, before piloting the Brian Kiesey trained Admiralofthefleet to be first past the post 30 minutes later.
Bred and raced by NSW horseman Ian Livermore, Wind Sock from inside the second line settled four back along the markers before angling to be one/one mid-race, as former Kiwi Fremont Street, having its first run in Australia, led from gate five.
Extricated three wide in the back straight, Wind Sock held a narrow margin in the race to the post to defeat all challengers and register a five metre win over Nivekalon Eagle and Sporty Philtra in a mile rate of 2:00.3 to claim the second heat of the Peter Walsh MP Challenge Pace.
The third heat went the way of Admiralofthefleet, who was trapped three wide from outside the front line and eased before going forward to park outside Nicolescruiser (gate six). He then raced to the front on the home turn before running away to score by six metres and hand Maggs his driving double, with Mynameisruby and Nicolescruiser claiming the minor placings.
Earlier in the evening, Sutton Grange breeder/owner/trainer Clive Henderson was rewarded for persistency when gelding Edwarde Grange returned to the winners’ list for the first time since February, taking out the first heat of the Peter Walsh MP Challenge Pace.
Driven by Tayla French, Edwarde Grange came out running from gate four to lead throughout and record a one-and-a-half metre win ahead of Lils Nightmare, who came off a three wide trail from the tail in the last lap, with Shaq finishing third, four back in a mile rate of 1:59.5.
The $10,000 final of the Peter Walsh MP Challenge Pace will be held at Echuca next Wednesday, June 26.
The only local success for the night came from Island Melia in the third event of the night, with the 3YO filly bred and raced by Cohuna’s Bruce and Denise Morrison.
Heavily supported in the ring, the Nathan Jack trained and driven Island Melia gave punters heart flutters before claiming a half-head win over Remi Magic weaving in-between runners to gain a late split before using the sprint lane. Ive An Idea also used the sprint lane from four back along the pegs to finish third in a mile rate of 2:01.3.
Wednesday proved to be a successful night for the trainer/drivers, with Romsey’s trainer/driver Chris Svanosio opening the meeting with victory aboard Pablo Rocks, before Great Western trainer/driver Kerryn Manning won the second event on the card aboard Surfingmakescents.
Maryborough trainer/driver Mark Hayes is no stranger to Swan Hill and was successful with 4Y0 gelding That Other Thing in the penultimate race of the night, with Stawell trainer/driver Jason Ainsworth claiming the final win of the night aboard En Seventeen.
