Harness Highlights

By Len Baker

Ever progressive Horsham commenced the week on Monday December 11 with a seven-event card which saw long time Mt Rowan trainer Julian Jobe successful with Tell All-Miss Emjay 7YO gelding A Vapar Storm. Driven by Michael Bellman, A Vapar Storm was taken back from gate six to settle three back in the moving line as polemarker and favourite Miki Steamed Home led. When Goodtime Stryker went forward from the rear in the final circuit, A Vapar Storm immediately latched to his back for a great ride home. Angling wide on turning, A Vapar Storm produced an electric finish to race away and score by 6.6 metres from Icanmotor along the sprint lane off the back of the leader, with Goodtime Stryker a game third 3.3 metres back. The mile rate 2-00.5.

Long shot winners were prominent during the day and Balliang trainer/driver Jason Hackett‘s Always B Miki-Anna Finn 3Y0 filly Alanna Miki ($19.00) defeated her older rivals in the Betta Home Living – Driver Pace over 2200 metres returning a mile rate of 2-01.2. Driven with aggression to cross from outside the front line, Alanna Miki gave plenty in the run home after being tackled by the favourite The Notorious R B G (one/one – outside winner home turn) to prevail by 1.5 metres in a rate of 2-01.2 after the pair drew away approaching the home turn. Hez All Rock (one/two – three wide last lap) was third 9.9 metres back.

Another Balliang winner was owner/trainer Tyrone Abela after honest 6YO Im Stately-Calder Image gelding Gee Cee Calder scored in the 2200 metre The Weekly Advertiser Trotters Handicap which gave Kerryn Manning a great return to the winners circle after a long lay off through injury. Coming from 30 metres, Gee Cee Calder settled three back in the moving line with speedy beginner Allawart Bob leading from barrier three for locals Laurie Young and Ryan Stackhouse. Going forward three wide with a rush in the last lap to join the leader on the home turn, Gee Cee Calder ran home nicely to register an easy 11.5 metre victory (his sixth in 28 outings), accounting for Allawart Bob in a mile rate of 2-04.4. Shezagem (four pegs after a slow start from barrier three) was third 5.7 metres back.

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Geelong and Mildura raced on Tuesday and Lara trainer James Warnock landed the GHRC Staff & Volunteers Pace over 2100 metres at Geelong with 3Y0 Metropolitan-Trish Bromac gelding Caledonian Ranger. Raced by James in partnership with son Paul, Caledonian Ranger driven by Gordon’s Darby McGuigan led throughout from gate four to account for Really Whisky (gate three) which trailed using the sprint lane to no avail by 4.4 metres in a rate of 2-01. Polemarker Ima Popstar (three pegs) was third 3.8 metres away.

Daylesford’s Mick Barby and wife Anne-Maree Conroy were victorious with handy 6YO Quake Jet-Adellas Dash gelding Quake Proof trained by Mick and raced by the pair in the Evolution Lodge Trotters Mobile over 2100 metres. Driven by Anne-Maree. Quake Proof after following the leader Imhavingoodtime (gate three) finished best along the sprint lane to gain the day by a neck from El Rasamo (one/two – three wide to death at bell), with Majestic Mover (death – one/one last lap) third 6.7 metres back. The mile rate 2-02.

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At Bendigo on Wednesday, Melton trainer/driver Clinton Welsh scored a well overdue victory with 6YO Roll With Joe-Petousa entire Roll With Rosco in the Sheahan Plumbing 4YO & Older Maiden Trotters Mobile when making his 31st race appearance. In a tough effort, Roll With Rosco after a slow beginning from outside the front line settled near last as Mattie Gath with Frankythefrenchman went forward from gate five to cross Flying Flynn (gate two). Spending plenty of petrol when going forward three wide mid-race to park outside the leader at the bell, Roll With Rosco in a two horse battle all the way up the running was coaxed to the wire, gaining the day by a nose in a tricky finish over Frankiethefrenchman, with Te Kuity Kitty (one/three last lap) making late ground for third 7.4 metres back. The mile rate 2-05.1.