FOUR-year-old Sundon/Make Mine Candy gelding Katmandonny has always shown plenty of ability since first gracing the track, and chalked up his fifth victory in 19 outings. Again with Gavin Lang in the sulky, Katmandonny from gate four was given the run of the race trailing the favourite Kyvalley Rap outside him trained and driven by Chris Lang. Easing away from the markers on turning, Katmandonny was too strong at the finish, scoring by a head untouched over Kyvalley Rap, with Sir Pegasus off a three wide trail last lap third. The mile rate 2-03.7. The In-form Ross and Greg Sugars combination added yet another winner to their season’s tally, when four-year-old Ponder/Alive In Paris mare Ponder In Paris greeted the judge in the Daisy Hill Racing Pace for C0 class over 2180 metres at Kilmore. Leading on her ear from gate four, Ponder In Paris led throughout to score from Hugh which raced outside her and Got Nothing (one/one) in a rate of 2-01.8.
MAREE and John Caldow were winners at Maryborough on Thursday, when four-year-old Western Terror/Miss Saxony mare Rhinestone Cowgirl snared the Central Goldfields Shire Vicbred Pace for C0 class over 2190 metres. Starting solo on the second line, Rhinestone Cowgirl positioned four back in the moving line following the hot favourite Saabrina Miss (gate two), with Itsfamouslevity leading from gate six. When Chris Alford set Saabrina Miss alight three wide in the final circuit to lead prior to the home turn, Rhinestone Cowgirl immediately latched to her back for a lovely ride home. In a two horse war all the way up the running, Rhinestone Cowgirl prevailed by a nose in 2-00.2, with Pacquiao (one/one) 12.7 metres away in third place.
BACCHUS Marsh duo Alan and Amy Tubbs scored a well-deserved victory with five-year-old Aces N Sevens/Alesco gelding Cut For An Ace in the first heat of the VHRSC Metropolitan Cup for C6 or better class over 2190 metres at Maryborough. Taken off the gate from outside the front row, Cut For An Ace settled at the tail of the field with the exception of Shnappy which galloped away inside him. Sent forward racing for the bell to park outside the pacemaker Spot Nine, Cut For An Ace gained the upper hand on the final bend, registering a 4.1-metre victory over Christian World (three wide on turning after trailing the leader), with Spot Nine a game third after being taken on mercifully by Balance Point for the first 200 metres. The mile rate 1-56.9.
FOUR-year-old Life Sign/Mirra Mirra mare Fairest One Youare trained in Melton by Geoff Walker was an easy victor of the VHRSC Provincial Cup (third heat) for C1 class over 2190 metres at Maryborough. Driven by Jodi Quinlan, Fairest One Youare (gate four) was handed the lead on a platter by Our Ponzi inside her shortly after the start, before toying with her rivals in defeating Umi which shadowed her for most of the trip and Our Ponzi in a rate of 2-02.3. Winners on the night at the Stawell fixture held at Tabcorp Park on Friday from the Melton/Bacchus Marsh area were Lierre Noir (Alan & Amy Tubbs), Veranjee and Illawong Geraldine (Ross & Greg Sugars), Pembrook Caesar (Craig Demmler & Jodi Quinlan), Motu Young Jacob (Lance Justice & Tanya Cavallaro) and Holdonsu (Beau Tindale and Rod Petroff).
MEETINGS for the week: Wednesday – Horsham/Geelong, Thursday – Cranbourne/Bendigo, Friday – St Arnaud at Melton, Saturday – Melton, Sunday – Mooroopna a Shepparton, Monday – Stawell, Tuesday – Geelong. Horses to follow – Stunning Jasper, Tuscan Breeze, Wheatsheaf Avaball, Hugh, Johnny Armbrose, Star Style, Drunken Desire, Sarum Knight, Christian World, Pass It To Billy.
