AN interesting seven event card of harness racing was held at Swan Hill on Sunday with fast times the order of the night.
The Braemar Air Conditioning Pace over 2240 began the program with it going the way of veteran Charlton part-owner/trainer Mark Boyle’s 5Y0 Sportswriter-Redbank Under Fire gelding Sporting Rage which returned a mile rate of 1-55.8.
Driven by the state’s leading reinsman James Herbertson, Sporting Rage settled three back in the moving line from gate two on the second line. Community Art, formerly in the care of Kerang’s Trevor Dawson, led from gate four with Liam Older in the sulky for Alby Ashwood.
Set alight with a swift turn of speed with a mile to travel, Sporting Rage assumed control shortly after and was never headed, scoring by four metres in advance of Community Art, with Ozzie Daybreak (four pegs) from inside the second line running on late out wide on turning for third 1.5 metres away.
“Herbie” was also victorious for Lexton trainer/father Ashleigh aboard handy 5Y0 American Ideal-Flying McPocket gelding Marty The Martian in the 1750 metre Carrier Air Conditioning Pace.
Taken back from gate five to possie three back in the running line as speedy polemarker Ivana Bytheseaside led with the hot favourite Big Sledge Hammer (gate two) outside her, Marty The Martian followed Bruised Ego ahead of him forward three wide into the home turn. Then moved four wide on the bend before flashing home to prevail by 1.1 metres from Bruised Ego and Ivana Bytheseaside which held third a half neck back.
The mile rate 1-54.8.
Tooleen trainer/driver Alex (Alby) Ashwood landed the Laser Electrical Solahart Pace over 2240 metres with the heavily supported Well Said-Tina Athena 5Y0 gelding Dooo Don’t Think.
Going forward three wide from gate three to head off Better Blue Boys (gate five), Dooo Don’t Think raced by Heathcote’s Terry French coasted to the wire, recording a 5.5 metre victory over Deewhy which vacated the prime one/one spot at the bell to race exposed.
Better Blue Boys held third 2.4 metres away. The mile rate 1-58.1.
A first for harness racing may have been established in the 1750 metre Toshiba Air Conditioning NMW Pace after Red Cliffs trainer Naomi Kerr snared the quinella, exacta, trifecta and pick four, which wasn’t hard to do as she provided the entire eight horse field – the victor 5Y0 Captaintreacherous-Well Hello Dolly entire Go Away Again.
Driven by Western District reinsman Lochie Cook, who made the long journey to the Northern District, Go Away Again after going forward from gate four to head off Ultimate Rocker (gate two), was untroubled to greet the judge by 5.2 metres in 1-54.1 from Ultimate Rocker and polemarker American Boxer (three pegs) who was 4.5 metres away.
The ‘Battlers in the Bush’ Pace is always a highlight at Swan Hill meetings and the Elliott Family Laser Electrical BITB Maiden Pace saw victory go the way of Irymple trainer and Mildura HRC President “Pud” MacDonald’s 3Y0 Hes Watching-Village Spy filly Super Suspect.
Driven by Charlton’s Luke Dunne, Super Suspect from the pole enjoyed a sweet passage trailing the leader Im All Business from the Ashwood camp which had been backed for bundles from a $6 morning line into a prohibitive $1.40 favourite.
Turning for home with a handy margin, Im All Business gave zilch as the post arrived and Super Suspect, after coming off his back, bloused him by a neck.
Happenstbabeachboy (one/one – three wide home turn) finished third albeit 20.9 metres away, the mile rate 1-58.
Luke Dunne brought up a double after thirteen year old Dawn Ofa New Day-Celestial Gift gelding Celestial Daybreak at start 432 (15 wins) scored in the 1750 metre Laser Electrical Fibre Optics Pace.
Trained at Charlton by partner Tori Hutchins, Celestial Daybreak defied his age by flying away from outside to the front line to lead and was never headed, greeting the judge by 4.1 metres in 1-56.9 from Priority Betting which trailed from the pole.
Stonebridge Star ran on late from the rear after striking trouble prior to the home turn for third 3.1 metres away.
The trotting races always add excitement to Swan Hill meetings and the Sunny Lighting Trotters Handicap over 2240 metres did exactly that, taken out by Stawell trainer/driver Jason Ainsworth’s 7Y0 Love You-Whitney Grace gelding Robbinmemates, the 40 metre backmarker.
The gelding began swiftly to settle four back along the markers after the raging hot favourite Just Abit Dusty missed the start hopelessly and galloped. Solo front marker Shield Maiden bounded clear, but Robbinmemates gradually made ground to make the final bend three wide as Shield Maiden ran out of gas and galloped with Maoris Return issuing a challenge.
Racing clear Robbinmemates gained the day by 1.8 metres from Maoris Return and stablemate Sweet Maori Miss (5 pegs) who was third 11 metres away.
The mile rate 2-02.7.
