Harness Highlights

By Len Baker

At Bray Raceway Ballarat last Wednesday, Myrniong co-trainers Jess Tubbs and Greg Sugars from Larajay Farms captured the feature race of the night – the $15,000 A J Prendergast Memorial for Three Year Old Fillies over 2200 metres with First Dance, a daughter of A Rocknroll Dance and Slangevar.

Driven by Greg, First Dance began fast from gate six as did the favourite Soho Seraphine outside her with both crossing those inside with Soho Serephine leading. Held in a tight pocket on turning, First Dance gained an inside passage as the winning post came into view and sprouted wings to record a 1.6 metre victory. Major Milestone (one/one – three wide home turn) was third 1.3 metres back. The mile rate 2-00.9.

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Parwan’s Craig Demmler combined with Chris Alford to land the Ballarat Veterinary Practice Pace over 1710 metres with Rock N Roll Heaven-Mach Robyn 5Y0 mare Heavenly Gipsy who chalked up her sixth victory in 25 outings. Settling at the tail from gate three on the second line, Alford made a lightning move three wide racing for the bell to cross the pacemaker Vapar Fire and lead for the final circuit, easily accounting for Vapar Fire by a nine metre margin in a rate of 1-56.3. Le Belle Bijoux ran on late out wide from the rear for third two metres away