The two Victorian harness meetings scheduled for Wednesday February 27 came to a sudden halt due to torrential rain coming down in bucket loads.
At Yarra Valley during the day five of the seven races were held, while at Shepparton in the evening only two races took place.
Melton husband and wife John and Maree Caldow brought up two wins in succession with five-year-old Dream Vacation/Skye Rocket gelding Mister Scorcher at Yarra Valley, taking out the www.choicehotels.com.au Trotters Handicap for T0 or better class over 2150 metres.
Coming from the 30-metre mark with no runners off the front line, Mister Scorcher who has always shown plenty of talent stepped cleanly to settle three back in the moving line, with the 40-metre backmarker Keystone Blues beginning brilliantly to lead on the first turn.
Easing three wide in the final circuit to lead on turning, Mister Scorcher recorded a comfortable 3.1-metre victory in advance of Keystone Blues in a mile rate of 2-04, with Regal Equation (one/one) third.
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Rockbank trainer Anthony Spiteri’s ultra-consistent Art Major/Galleons Bud colt Major Calipso chalked up his fourth victory in 27 outings (14 placings), when greeting the judge in the St Patrick Day @ Yarra Valley Vicbred Pace for C0 class over 1650 metres.
Driven once again by Nathan Jack, Major Calipso from gate two couldn’t cross the roughie Regal Theory inside him as the start was effected, racing in the open until the bell when he strode clear.
Cruising for the remainder of the journey, Major Calipso coasted to the wire 9.9 metres in advance of Bliss Man (one/one – three wide home turn) and Predominant Lombo (three back the markers – four wide home turn) in a rate of 1-58.7.
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Hopetoun Park trainer Ross Sugars is enjoying possibly his best season ever and added another winner to the CV when six-year-old Elsu/Mamie McGuire gelding Go El Zhar scored in the Imagination Play Pace for C2 class over 1650 metres at “The Valley”.
Taking a concession for Melton-based Zac Phillips, Go El Zhar wasn’t bustled from gate four on the second line, settling with only Action Royale behind him.
Trailing both Lucknpower and One Tough Reign in the three wide train at the bell, Go El Zhar followed One Tough Reign four wide approaching the home turn, before surging clear on straightening to defeat Action Royale and The Smirker from mid-field in a rate of 1-59.9.
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Rockbank’s Dennis Offer combined with Korweinguboora reinsman Eddie Conroy to land the PSC Connect Trotters Handicap for T0 class over 2150 metres at Kilmore on Thursday with four-year-old Sundon/Nicks Whiz gelding Sunwhiz in a rate of 2-09.7.
Starting from the pole, Sunwhiz led out as the tapes released, before being restrained to take a trail on the local hope Wortherly who was driven hard to cross.
Enjoying the run of the race, Sunwhiz made full use of the sprint lane to gain the day in advance of a death-seating Smileifyouluvme and Nicky Newky (three wide last lap from mid-field), chalking up his second victory in 14 outings.
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Melton trainer Sue Hunter snared the Boltons Office National three-year-old Pace over 2180 metres at Kilmore with talented Dream Away/Riwaka Dancer gelding Must Be Nice.
Driven by Ahmed Taiba, Must Be Nice showed plenty of speed from gate six to lead throughout in accounting for Doomed (three back the markers – one/one – behind winner home turn) and a death-seating Onetolove in a rate of 2-03.4.
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Melton’s Lance Justice was in the winners stall at Maryborough on Thursday following the victory of New Zealand bred four-year-old P Forty Seven/Happy Bromac gelding Hoagy Bromac in the Bet With Alan Barker Pace for C2 class over 2190 metres.
Driven for speed from gate five, Hoagy Bromac was untroubled to lead all of the way in accounting for Amazing Kano (one/two – three wide last lap) and Sidney Shaw which followed the runner up home. The mile rate 2-00.7.
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Meetings for the week: Wednesday – Stawell/Kilmore, Thursday – Geelong/Ouyen @ Mildura, Friday – Melton, Saturday – Bendigo, Sunday – Wangaratta (Cup), Monday – Warrnambool @ Terang, Tuesday – Cranbourne.
Horses to follow: The Binder, Star Style, Australian Bite, Glenferrie College, Misschinoise, Real Character, Rosharni.
