Harness Highlights

By Len Baker

Melbourne owner John Dorrington loves his harness racing and has raced numerous horses over the years, and on Monday 27 November at Horsham, four year old Always B Miki-Just Look At Me mare Just Miki, was successful in the Stawell Pacing Cup Pace over 1700 metres.

Just Miki is trained at Parwan (shortly to be Ballan) by astute Philip Chircop, and driven on the day by James Herbertson. She copped a nasty check at the start when Bayside Victory galloped, resulting in Just Miki settling three back in the moving line.

Going forward racing for the bell to park outside the pacemaker for the final circuit, Just Miki showed plenty of determination in the straight to register a half head margin over The Notorious R B G returning a mile rate of 1-58 (last half 58.2 – quarter 28.6).

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At Melton on Wednesday, Gordon trainer Larry Lynch combined with neighbour Darby McGuigan to land the TAB Fasttrack No Metro Wins Sprint with 7Y0 Live Or Die-Ayr Affair gelding Breathe Easy in a rate of 1-53.6. Enjoying a one/one passage from gate three, Breathe Easy eased three wide on the final bend and just lasted by a nose over Superbon (four wide last lap from the rear).

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At Bendigo, Long Forest trainer Peter Thompson landed the Echo Victoria Pace over 2150 metres with A Rocknroll Dance-Hidden Jewel 5Y0 gelding Duffy Hollow at odds of $26. In what was the drive of the night by Gordon’s Darby McQuigan, Duffy Hollow came away from the markers prior to the home turn as Tupelo Beach trailing the leader gave ground, Duffy Hollow angled back to the sprint lane proving far superior to his rivals, scoring by 1.9 metres over Glenledi Elvis. The mile rate 1-57.3. Duffy Hollow won again at Ballarat on Friday with Jordon Leedham in the sulky.